PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — Rutgers outlasted Oregon 88-85 in overtime Monday night at a sold-out Louis Brown Athletic Center. The Ducks led 45-37 at halftime, but the Scarlet Knights erased the deficit in the second half to force an extra period tied at 76. Rutgers outscored Oregon 12-9 in overtime to secure the nonconference victory. Both teams are now 8-7 this season. The game, part of the Big Ten schedule, drew 8,000 fans. Oregon had been a 4 1/2-point favorite.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections and featured 12 lead changes, Tariq Francis scored 30 points, including a crucial go-ahead basket in the final minute of overtime, to lift the Rutgers Scarlet Knights to an 88-85 victory over the Oregon Ducks in a nonconference men’s basketball thriller Monday night at a raucous Louis Brown Athletic Center. The contest, which saw the Scarlet Knights overcome an eight-point halftime deficit and survive a last-second regulation heave, improved both teams to an identical 8-7 on the season. The result was a stark reversal of the statistical expectations, as National Statistical’s ELO system had given Oregon a 66.9% probability to win, and the Ducks entered as 4.5-point favorites. The most critical sequence of the night unfolded in the extra period. With the score knotted at 85 and under a minute to play, Francis, a 6-foot-1 guard from Pittsburgh, drove the lane and connected on a floating jump shot to put Rutgers ahead for good with 49 seconds remaining. Oregon’s ensuing possession resulted in a missed three-pointer by Nate Bittle, and after Jamichael Davis made one of two free throws for Rutgers with 7 seconds left, the Ducks’ final attempt to tie rimmed out as time expired. The game was a tale of two halves and two stars. Oregon dominated the opening period, leveraging the inside-outside combination of Bittle and guard Wei Lin. Bittle, a 7-foot center from Central Point, Oregon, finished with a game-high 28 points, while Lin, from Xiamen, China, added 23 points and five assists. The Ducks shot efficiently early, building a 45-37 lead at the break. Rutgers chipped away in the second half, fueled by Francis’s relentless attacking and support from Darren Buchanan, who had 13 points, and Davis, who also scored 13. The Scarlet Knights finally drew even and forced overtime when Angelino Mark, listed as Lino Mark in the play-by-play, converted two free throws with 17 seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 76. Oregon had a chance to win it in regulation, but Wei Lin’s deep three-pointer at the buzzer was off the mark, sending the game to an extra period attended by 8,000 fans. The overtime was a tense, back-and-forth affair. Bittle and Kwame Evans, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Oregon, traded baskets with Francis and Buchanan. Francis’s final floater proved the decisive blow, capping a remarkable performance that followed his 17-point effort in a loss to Ohio State just three days prior. The game’s statistical oddity was its relation to the over/under line. The combined 173 points sailed far past the set line of 142.5, highlighting the offensive explosion that took place. Both teams struggled from three-point range at various moments but compensated with key plays in the paint and at the free-throw line, where Rutgers held a slight advantage in crucial moments. For Oregon, the loss halts momentum from a road win at Maryland last Friday and underscores ongoing challenges in close games away from home. The Ducks, now 1-2 in games decided by three points or fewer, will look to regroup quickly as they head into a tough stretch of Big Ten play. Rutgers, meanwhile, secures a significant resume-building victory after a narrow loss to the Buckeyes. The Scarlet Knights demonstrated resilience, overcoming a poor shooting start and a significant halftime hole to outscore Oregon 51-40 after the break and in overtime combined. The game served as a standalone nonconference contest organized by the Big Ten before both teams plunge into their full conference schedules. Oregon returns home to face Ohio State on Thursday, while Rutgers travels to face Illinois the same night.

Oregon, Rutgers Seek Momentum in Big Ten Clash PISCATAWAY, N.J. (Interstat) — Two teams looking to climb above .500 will meet Monday when the Oregon Ducks visit the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in a nonconference men’s basketball game organized by the Big Ten. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at the Louis Brown Athletic Center. Oregon (8-6) arrives after a 64-54 road victory at Maryland on Friday, a defensive effort that snapped a two-game skid. Rutgers (7-7) looks to rebound from a 73-80 home loss to Ohio State on the same day. The matchup features two of the conference’s standout performers. Oregon’s Nate Bittle enters on a hot streak, averaging 22.5 points over his last four games. The forward is coming off a 16-point, 5-block performance against Maryland and has recorded at least four blocks in three of his last five contests. Rutgers will counter with guard Tariq Francis, who scored 34 points in a narrow win over Penn on Dec. 20 and is averaging 19.3 points over his last three games. His backcourt play will be crucial against Oregon’s perimeter defense. Both teams have faced challenging schedules. Oregon’s losses include ranked opponents Gonzaga, Auburn and Creighton. Rutgers has struggled against top-tier competition, with defeats to Purdue, Tennessee, Michigan and Seton Hall by an average of 24 points. The Ducks have shown a potent offense, scoring 80 or more points in four wins this season, but have been inconsistent away from home. Rutgers has relied on its defense at the RAC, holding opponents to 65 points or fewer in three of its last four home games. Monday’s contest is a final tune-up before both dive deeper into conference play. Oregon hosts Ohio State on Thursday, while Rutgers travels to Illinois. A victory would provide either squad a needed boost as they approach the heart of their schedules.