No. 4 Michigan rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat injury-plagued Oregon 81-71 on Saturday at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene. The win completes a successful Pacific Northwest road swing for the Wolverines, who improved to 16-1 overall and 6-1 in Big Ten play. Oregon, missing key players Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle, put up a fight but couldn't keep pace in the second half.
Michigan's West Coast trip concluded triumphantly as the Wolverines overcame a one-point halftime deficit to secure an 81-71 victory over Oregon on January 17, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. Entering as heavy favorites after a 82-72 win over Washington earlier in the week, Michigan (16-1, 6-1 Big Ten) faced a resilient Ducks squad depleted by injuries to preseason All-Big Ten selections Jackson Shelstad (right hand) and Nate Bittle (foot), who together account for over 30 points per game.
The first half was competitive, with Oregon (8-10, 1-6) leading 41-40 at the break despite shooting poorly early on, missing 10 of their first 13 attempts. Michigan built an early 21-10 lead behind corner threes from L.J. Cason and contributions from Trey McKenney and Will Tschetter, but Oregon mounted an 11-2 run to take the lead late. Wei Lin's buzzer-beating three over Yaxel Lendeborg sealed the halftime edge for the Ducks.
Michigan flipped the script in the second half, using a 12-2 spurt fueled by Aday Mara's versatile play—including a reverse jam, running hook, and assists—to grab a 58-49 lead with 13:20 remaining. Morez Johnson Jr. added key buckets at the rim after limited first-half minutes due to fouls, extending the advantage to 68-56. Oregon's Sean Stewart led with 22 points and Kwame Evans Jr. scored 18, helping the Ducks outscore Michigan 22-12 on second-chance points and 19-8 off turnovers, but they lacked the firepower to close the gap.
Elliot Cadeau topped Michigan with 17 points, Nimari Burnett added 15 (including a three and dunk), and Mara contributed 12. Defensive stands, like Lendeborg and Johnson's blocks, preserved the win. Oregon coach Dana Altman had challenged his team to show character amid adversity, but the Ducks have now lost four straight. Michigan's focus remained sharp, as coach Dusty May noted every opponent has talent despite the absences. This marks the second straight year Michigan has swept Big Ten West Coast foes.
