Oregon Ducks Basketball, Jackson Shelstad Protect Perfect Road Record vs. Penn State

The Oregon Ducks improved their record to 15-2 with road wins over the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Penn State Nittany Lions this week. Guard Jackson Shelstad hit big time shots down the stretch in both games to help the Ducks prevail.
Jan 12, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Keeshawn Barthelemy (9) celebrates with guard Jackson Shelstad (3) after making a three-point basket during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Oregon defeated Penn State 82-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Keeshawn Barthelemy (9) celebrates with guard Jackson Shelstad (3) after making a three-point basket during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Oregon defeated Penn State 82-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks men’s basketball team capped off their road trip with an 82-81 over the Penn State Nittany Lions. Oregon is still perfect on the road this season and saw themselves jump up in the AP Top-25 Poll on Monday morning.

The Ducks have a record of 15-2, their best through 17 games since the 2016-2017 season. That team ended up making it all the way to the Final Four.  

Oregon Ducks Remain Undefeated on the Road

Jan 12, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Freddie Dilione V (4) loses control of the b
Jan 12, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions guard Freddie Dilione V (4) loses control of the ball during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Bryce Jordan Center. Oregon defeated Penn State 82-81. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

It’s been so far so good for the Oregon Ducks on the road this season. The Ducks are a perfect 4-0 with wins at Oregon State, USC, Ohio State, and Penn State. Their only losses this year have come at home vs. the UCLA Bruins and the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Over the past week, Oregon was able to just squeeze out two close ones over Ohio State and Penn State. This team has had a knack for finding ways to win close games. After coming from behind in the second half vs. Penn State and winning 82-81, Oregon is now 5-1 in games decided by 4 points or less. 

Ducks guard Jackson Shelstad had a rocky start to the season, but has gotten back to playing like the guy he was last season and has averaged 21.3 points in the last three games. In the final minute of each the Ohio State and Penn State game, Shelstad knocked down the go-ahead bucket/free throws to give Oregon the lead.

MORE: Ohio State To Win National Championship? Oregon Ducks Coach Dan Lanning Believes

MORE: Ohio State Buckeyes' Will Howard in ‘Dark Place’ After Loss to Oregon Duck

MORE: Four-Star Linebacker Recruit McKay Madsen Commits To BYU Over Oregon Ducks, UCLA

Ducks Jump to No. 13 in Country 

Jan 12, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman looks on from the bench during the firs
Jan 12, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Dana Altman looks on from the bench during the first half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Bryce Jordan Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images / Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

The Oregon Ducks now are ranked No. 13 in the AP Poll. They came into last week ranked No. 15, but road wins over the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions helped boost them up a few spots. 

According to Bball Net, Oregon already has 7 quad 1 wins. Their resume looks very strong and gives them a great shot to get into the NCAA Tournament with a high seed. Prior to Sunday's win over Penn State, ESPN's Joe Lunardi had the Ducks slotted as No. 3 seed in his latest bracketology projection.

Oregon will now come home and get ready to take on the No. 18 team in the country, the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 12 p.m PT.

Purdue has won their last four games are a game out of first place in the Big Ten with a conference record of 5-1. Overall, the Boilermakers are 13-4. The Ducks are 4-2 in conference play so a win would give them the tiebreaker over Purdue in the standings.

MORE: L.A. Chargers' Justin Herbert Takes Blame In NFL Wild Card Loss To Houston Texans

MORE: NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Denver Broncos Bo Nix, Washington Jayden Daniels?

MORE: Boise State Football Accuses Oregon Ducks of Tampering

MORE: Former Oregon Ducks Receiver Ryan Pellum Arrested for 'Pistol-Whipping' Assault


Published |Modified
Cory Pappas
CORY PAPPAS

Cory Pappas is sports writer for USC Trojans On SI and Oregon Ducks On SI. Since starting in March of 2024, he has been writing breaking news stories, game previews, game recaps, and more across College Sports, the NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympics for Total Apex Sports. In addition to writing, Cory is also a sports data scout for Sportradar. He covers live sporting events ranging from college athletics to semi-pro and professional. Before joining the industry, Cory graduated from the University of Oregon in 2022. He ran track for Oregon's club Track and Field team. Before Oregon, he played varsity basketball and track and field in high school in Walnut Creek, CA. Cory is using his lifelong passion for sports and writing together.