EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — Nate Bittle scored 25 points and blocked six shots, leading a second-half surge as the Oregon Ducks overcame a sluggish start to defeat the Rice Owls 67-63 in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks, who trailed by five at halftime, outscored the Owls 40-31 in the second half to secure the victory in front of 5,619 fans and improve their record to 2-0. Rice fell to 1-1.

Bittle, a 7-foot center from Central Point, Oregon, was dominant on both ends of the floor, adding eight rebounds to his game-high scoring and block totals. His presence in the paint was a key factor as Oregon finished with nine blocks as a team, stifling the Owls’ interior offense.

Rice controlled the first half, building its lead largely from beyond the arc. The Owls shot 11 for 27 from 3-point range for the game, with Trae Broadnax and Nick Anderson leading the charge. Broadnax, a guard from Savannah, Georgia, finished with 17 points, five rebounds and two assists. Anderson, from Houston, added 16 points.

The Ducks struggled to find their shooting touch, making just 17 of 52 field goal attempts and 7 of 28 from 3-point range. They compensated by being aggressive and getting to the free-throw line, where they attempted 38 free throws, making 26. Rice, by contrast, went 8 for 11 from the line.

Oregon’s ability to convert Rice’s mistakes was another decisive factor. The Ducks scored 20 points off 13 Rice turnovers, while the Owls managed 11 points off 11 Oregon turnovers.

Jackson Shelstad provided crucial support for Oregon with 11 points, four rebounds and four assists. Kwame Evans Jr. also scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Ducks.

For Rice, Jalen Smith orchestrated the offense with a team-high five assists to go with 14 points. Stephen Giwa anchored the boards with nine rebounds.

The game was a tale of two halves. Rice led 32-27 at the break, but Oregon’s defensive intensity and offensive execution improved dramatically after halftime, allowing them to claw back and eventually secure the four-point win, defying the pregame spread that had installed them as 15.5-point favorites.

Rice next hosts Stephen F. Austin on Tuesday. Oregon’s next contest is at home against South Dakota State on Wednesday.