EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — In a season opener defined by grit over grace, the Oregon Ducks escaped with a 60-59 victory over the Hawaii Warriors on Tuesday night after a frantic final sequence at Matthew Knight Arena.

A crowd of 5,627 watched as the Ducks, heavy favorites according to pregame projections, struggled to find separation against a relentless Warriors squad that capitalized on mistakes all evening. The game was ultimately decided in the final four seconds when Oregon’s Takai Simpkins collected an offensive rebound and converted a putback layup to give the Ducks the lead.

Hawaii had one final chance, but Hunter Erickson’s contested jumper as time expired missed the mark, sealing the narrow win for the home team. The combined score of 119 points fell dramatically short of the pregame over/under line of 145.5, highlighting a contest plagued by offensive inefficiency and tenacious defense from both sides.

The game was a tale of two halves, with Oregon taking a 33-26 lead into the break. The Ducks’ first-half offense was more fluid, but the Warriors clawed back in the second period, outscoring Oregon 33-27 behind a determined effort in the paint and by converting turnovers into points.

Hawaii’s defensive pressure was a constant thorn in Oregon’s side. The Warriors scored 23 points off Oregon turnovers, compared to just 13 for the Ducks. Hawaii also held a significant advantage in fastbreak points, 9-4, showcasing their ability to push the tempo and disrupt Oregon’s rhythm.

Oregon’s victory was anchored by a dominant double-double from center Nate Bittle. In 30 minutes of action, Bittle recorded 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, controlling the glass and adding four blocked shots to anchor the Ducks’ interior defense.

Simpkins led all scorers with 18 points for Oregon, with his final basket proving to be the most crucial. Devon Pryor added 9 points and 5 rebounds, while Sean Stewart provided a key spark off the bench with 8 points and 7 rebounds. Kwame Evans Jr. filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks.

For Hawaii, Isaac Johnson delivered a powerful performance in a losing effort. Despite playing only 12 minutes, Johnson was a force, tallying 13 points and 8 rebounds. His efficiency and energy kept the Warriors within striking distance throughout the second half.

Dre Bullock contributed 7 points and 7 rebounds for Hawaii, and Harry Rouhliadeff added 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 blocks, including a critical swat in the game’s final minute. Gytis Nemeiksa and Yacine Toumi combined for 12 points and 10 rebounds.

While Oregon held a slight edge in points in the paint, 36-30, it was Hawaii’s opportunistic defense and ability to generate extra possessions that allowed them to overcome their own shooting woes and challenge a more talented Oregon squad until the final buzzer.

With the win, Oregon begins its season 1-0 and will look to build on this hard-fought victory when it hosts Rice on Friday. Hawaii, now 0-1, will travel home to prepare for its home opener against Texas A&M-Commerce on Sunday, seeking its first win after a performance that, despite the result, demonstrated significant potential.