College basketball fans across Cowlitz County who follow the Oregon Ducks saw the team halt a difficult mid‑season slide on Saturday, earning an 83‑72 win over Penn State in Eugene. The victory, first reported by Oregon Public Broadcasting, marked Oregon’s first win since January 2.

The Ducks, now 9‑16 overall and 2‑12 in Big Ten play, relied on strong performances from Nate Bittle and Takai Simpkins, who each scored 22 points. Bittle added seven rebounds, five assists, and two blocks. Simpkins, who struggled early, delivered 20 of his 22 points in the second half and went 4-for-5 from three-point range.

Oregon led 38‑32 at halftime and used a pair of second‑half scoring runs—10‑2 and 11‑4—to build a lead that stretched to 15 points. Dezdrick Lindsay added 16 points off the bench, contributing to a 27‑5 Oregon advantage in bench scoring.

Penn State, now 11‑15 and 2‑13 in the conference, was led by Kayden Mingo with 24 points on efficient shooting. The Nittany Lions were unable to close the gap once Oregon’s offense found rhythm after the break.

The Ducks’ win is notable for many Southwest Washington residents who follow regional college athletics, particularly with Oregon’s entry into the Big Ten reshaping traditional West Coast matchups.

Penn State is scheduled to host Rutgers on Wednesday. Oregon will return home to face Minnesota on Tuesday.

Why this matters for Southwest Washington

College sports have a long following in Cowlitz County, where Pac‑12 and now Big Ten West Coast teams have historically drawn strong interest. Oregon’s season trajectory is a frequent topic among local fans, especially as conference realignment continues to alter the regional sports landscape.