In new era of Ducks and Beavers hoops, Oregon men take thriller

Different conferences led to the same result between the Ducks and Beavers in Corvallis.

CORVALLIS — Of course the game ended with the ball in Nate Bittle’s hands. 

It was after Oregon State’s final-second heave — a prayer of a three out of Michael Rataj’s hand that hit off the glass, then the rim and then finally into the outstretched arms of the Oregon center. Time had expired, Oregon had won 78-75 and Bittle went wild. 

He threw the ball up in the air before making a move toward an Oregon State student section that, for 35 of the game’s 40 minutes, had been as rowdy as it gets here in Corvallis. The Beavers packed a record 3,267 students into Gill, and the adults weren’t far behind them thanks to a BOGO deal the Beavers were running before the game. But it was Bittle, who had career-highs in points (23) and rebounds (14), along with the help of a suddenly hot Jackson Shelstad that finally quieted the home crowd.

“I’ve been watching this game since I was a kid,” said Bittle, a Central Point native. “And being a Duck and coming over here and keeping doing what guys have done before us and everything like that, it just feels good to get that win.”