Oregon jumps out to large lead, blows out Liberty
Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Geese guard TJ Bamba (5) dribbles the ball previous Liberty Flames guard Taelon Peter (2) throughout the second half within the first spherical of the NCAA Match at Local weather Pledge Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Steven Bisig-Imagn Photos Jackson Shelstad scored 17 factors on 7-of-11 taking pictures to assist fifth-seeded Oregon trounce Twelfth-seeded Liberty 81-52 on Friday night time in East Area first-round play of the NCAA Match at Seattle.
Nate Bittle contributed 14 factors and 10 rebounds and Keeshawn Barthelemy added 10 factors for the Geese (25-9), who by no means trailed whereas profitable for the ninth time previously 10 video games.
Oregon will play fourth-seeded Arizona on Sunday for a spot within the Candy 16. The Geese and Wildcats had been a part of the identical convention till each groups exited the Pac-12 earlier than the 2024 soccer season.
Zach Cleveland had 10 factors, six rebounds and 6 assists for Liberty (28-7), which misplaced for simply the second time previously 13 video games.
Oregon has gained no less than one recreation in every of its final 9 NCAA Match appearances.
The Geese shot 54.4 p.c from the sphere, together with 10 of 21 from 3-point vary. TJ Bamba had 4 of Oregon’s 11 steals.
Liberty made 32.8 p.c of its photographs and linked on a dismal 8 of 37 from behind the arc.
Shelstad scored 15 first-half factors to assist Oregon maintain a 44-20 lead on the break.
Shelstad tallied eight factors in a game-opening 18-2 burst because the Geese instantly took management.
Shelstad buried a jumper halfway by way of the half to make it 27-8.
Liberty moved inside 13 earlier than Bittle scored seven straight factors to present the Geese a 34-14 lead with 5:17 left within the half.
Shelstad had a private 5-0 run to finish the half, hitting a jumper with 41 seconds remaining and drilling a trey with 5 seconds left to make it a 24-point margin.
Brandon Angel’s basket made it 50-24 with 17:39 left within the recreation.
The Flames scored seven of the subsequent 9 factors with Taelon Peter’s 3-pointer reducing the deficit to 21 with 14:42 left.
Kwame Evans Jr. made a hook shot to place the lead over 30 for the primary time at 62-31 with 9:57 to play.
Massive man Bittle drained a trey to get the lead again to 30 with 5:02 remaining. Oregon led by as many as 34 whereas ending its game-long assault.
–Subject Stage Media
