EUGENE, Ore. – The University of Hawaii men's basketball team nearly pulled off a monumental road upset before falling in heartbreaking fashion to Oregon, 60-59, Tuesday night at Matthew Knight Arena. Takai Simpkins hit a driving layup off a long rebound with 4.2 seconds left as the Ducks ultimately escaped with a season-opening win. 

The layup ended a final possession that saw the Ducks miss a trio of three-point attempts, but only to corral three offensive rebounds to lead to the game-winning shot. UH had one final chance, but Hunter Erickson's running jumper from just inside the free throw line fell off the mark at the buzzer.

Simpkins finished with a game-high 18 points for Oregon, while center Nate Bittle finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks.

UH battled to the end despite playing the final five minutes without key frontcourt players Isaac Johnson and Gytis Nemeikša who both fouled out. Johnson led a balanced Rainbow Warrior squad with 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals and was a key factor in UH's rally from a double-digit deficit. 

In its first season opener on the road in nearly two decades, the Rainbow Warriors showed they wouldn't be intimidated. UH was in striking distance for much of the game, fell behind by 14 points midway through the second half, but showed their grit by surging ahead of the Ducks late in the game. 

Oregon led 33-26 at break and by just one point, 36-35, early in the half. The Ducks looked to take control of the game with a 14-1 run that gave them their first double-digit lead of the game, 50-36, with just under 12 minutes left.

But UH wouldn't fold and reeled off 14 straight points to knot the game up with eight minutes remaining. It was a run highlighted by six points from Johnson, a pair of three-pointers by Nemeiksa and a thunderous dunk by Dre Bullock.
 

Good lord @Quandre_3 💥

📺 Big Ten Network#ManaOhana x #GoBows pic.twitter.com/ckuaF148XT

— HAWAII BASKETBALL (@HawaiiMBB) November 5, 2025

From there it was nip-and tuck between the teams. The 'Bows took the lead on four occasions down the stretch, the final lead coming when Yacine Toumi hit one of two free throws for a 59-58 edge with 1:34 remaining. 

UH shot just 32 percent for the game, including just 5-of-27 on three-pointers (2-of-17 in the first half). But the Ducks also struggled from three (2-of-16) and the 'Bows stayed in the game by forcing 21 Oregon turnovers and registering 12 steals. UH also battled Oregon well on the boards (41 to 47) despite the final sequence down the stretch. 

The Rainbow Warriors now return to Honolulu where they will play their next 11 games, beginning with its home opener versus East Texas A&M on Sunday, Nov. 9. Tipoff is 8:00 p.m. at Bankoh Arena and will follow the Rainbow Wahine volleyball match at 4:00 p.m.