COLLEGE PARK, Md. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and a dominant paint presence, the Oregon Ducks grinded out a 64-54 victory over the Maryland Terrapins in a non-conference men’s basketball game Friday night at a sold-out Xfinity Center.

A crowd of 11,291 watched as the Ducks, despite being projected underdogs by advanced metrics, used a methodical first-half performance and a series of crucial defensive stops in the final minutes to secure the road win and improve to 8-6 on the season. Maryland fell to 6-7.

The game’s pivotal sequence came not with a flurry of scoring, but with a sustained defensive stand by Oregon that spanned the final four minutes. Leading 56-51 after a three-pointer by Maryland’s Isaiah Watts with 3:48 to play, the Ducks clamped down. Over the next three and a half minutes, they forced the Terrapins into four consecutive empty possessions, including two blocked shots by Oregon center Nate Bittle and a critical steal by Kwame Evans Jr.

During that decisive stretch, Oregon’s offense, while also sputtering, managed just enough to create separation. Takai Simpkins converted a driving layup to push the lead to seven, and after Maryland’s Solomon Washington missed a step-back jumper blocked by Bittle, the Ducks worked the clock. The knockout blow came when Simpkins, fouled in the backcourt, sank two free throws with 1:10 remaining to extend the lead to 60-51, effectively sealing the outcome.

The contest was characterized by frigid shooting throughout. Both teams combined to shoot under 40% from the field and well below 30% from three-point range. Maryland’s offensive woes were particularly acute, as they managed only 27 points in each half and failed to mount any sustained run after halftime.

Oregon established control early, opening the game on a 7-0 run capped by a four-point play from Wei Lin, who was fouled on a made three-pointer and hit the ensuing free throw. The Ducks maintained a lead for the entirety of the game, building their advantage to as many as 11 points in the first half before settling for a 34-27 halftime edge.

Bittle, the 7-foot center from Central Point, Oregon, was the game’s most impactful player. He finished with 16 points, five blocked shots, and three assists in 34 minutes, anchoring Oregon’s defense and providing efficient scoring inside. His presence altered countless Maryland attempts in the lane.

Simpkins, a guard from Brooklyn, New York, complemented Bittle with 16 points and four assists, serving as Oregon’s primary playmaker. Evans, a forward playing in his hometown of Baltimore, added 12 points and key defensive plays down the stretch.

For Maryland, Washington carried the offensive load with a game-high 17 points but needed 18 shots from the field to get there. Watts provided a spark off the bench with 11 points, all of which came in the second half, but the Terrapins’ starting backcourt of Darius Adams and Andre Mills combined to shoot 8 of 32 from the field.

The Ducks’ victory, secured in a tough road environment, provided a positive start to their 2026 calendar after a up-and-down December. They will continue their East Coast swing with a game at Rutgers on Monday. Maryland, seeking consistency, will look to rebound when they host Indiana next Wednesday in their Big Ten conference opener.

The game, organized under the Big Ten conference’s scheduling umbrella, saw the total points fall well under the pregame over/under line of 151.5, a testament to the defensive intensity and offensive struggles that defined the evening.