Mar 21, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Geese guard TJ Bamba (5) dribbles the ball previous Liberty Flames guard Taelon Peter (2) through the second half within the first spherical of the NCAA Event at Local weather Pledge Area. Obligatory Credit score: Steven Bisig-Imagn Photos
Jackson Shelstad scored 17 factors on 7-of-11 capturing to assist fifth-seeded Oregon trounce Twelfth-seeded Liberty 81-52 on Friday night time in East Area first-round play of the NCAA Event 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 successful for the ninth time up to now 10 video games.
Oregon will play fourth-seeded Arizona on Sunday for a spot within the Candy 16. The Geese and Wildcats have 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 up to now 13 video games.
Oregon has received at the very least one recreation in every of its final 9 NCAA Event 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 pictures and related 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 the half to make it 27-8.
Liberty moved inside 13 earlier than Bittle scored seven straight factors to provide 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 following 9 factors with Taelon Peter’s 3-pointer chopping 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.
Huge 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.
–Discipline Stage Media
