Oregon overcame a slow start and held on for an 83-72 win over Penn State in Big Ten play on Saturday afternoon in Eugene, Ore.
The Ducks (9-16, 2-12 Big Ten) put an end to a 10-game losing streak with the win, and were led by Takai Simpkins and Nate Bittle with 22 points each.
Oregon made 7 of 10 3-point attempts in the second half to pull away for its first win since January 2 at Maryland.
Penn State (11-15, 2-13) got a game-high 24 points from guard Kayden Mingo in the loss. Josh Reed added 13 for the Nittany Lions in a matchup of two Big Ten cellar dwellers.
Penn State tied the game at 46 on a 3-pointer from Dominick Stewart with 15:42 to play. Then Oregon took control, building its lead to 58-49 on a 3-pointer from Wei Lin and 62-51 after a dunk by Kwame Evans Jr. following a Nittany Lions turnover.
Simpkins scored 20 of his points in the second half, including three early 3-pointers in the first few minutes. When Bittle found forward Sean Stewart all alone jogging down the lane for a dunk with 7:04 remaining, Oregon took a 69-58 lead and was able to finish the game with ease.
Simpkins knocked down a deep 3 from the top of the arc with 4:00 to play, with Bittle passing out of the low post for the assist. Oregon led 80-65, and the fans at Matthew Knight Arena could, for the first time in well over a month, fully enjoy the traditional playing of “Shout,” an Oregon sports tradition, during a late timeout.
Oregon trailed by as many as seven early in the game but turned things around with a Bittle dunk in transition for a 27-23 lead and a couple Evans free throws for a 38-28 lead. Penn State trailed 38-32 at halftime.
