The college basketball season tips off on Monday, Nov. 2, 2026, as the Montana Grizzlies visit the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. Both programs enter the contest with a clean 0-0 slate, looking to set an early tone for their respective campaigns.
Tipoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET, with live television coverage broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Fans seeking digital viewing options can access the game via FOX One streaming platforms.
Oregon enters the new year with a heavily retooled roster, integrating several high-profile transfers into its rotation. Among the newcomers are guard Fred Payne, who arrived from Boston College; guard Tyrone Riley IV, a transfer from San Francisco; and forward Andrew Meadow, formerly of Boise State. The Ducks also received a significant frontcourt boost when 6-foot-10 transfer Malique Ewin was officially declared eligible on Oct. 25 following his move from Arkansas.
While Oregon restructures with fresh talent, Montana leans on continuity by returning experienced core starters Tyler Thompson and Kenyon Aguino. Thompson, a 6-foot-6 guard, started all 33 games he played last season, averaging 8.4 points and 4.0 rebounds in 29.3 minutes per contest. He shot 40.1 percent from beyond the arc, reaching a single-game high of 21 points. His outside shooting provides a vital weapon for stretching an unfamiliar Oregon defensive unit.
Inside, the Grizzlies feature 6-foot-8 forward Kenyon Aguino, who started all 34 games as a freshman. Aguino shot an efficient 55.4 percent from the field, averaging 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per night while chipping in 30.3 percent from 3-point range and scoring up to 24 points in a single outing. His interior efficiency faces a stiff challenge against Oregon’s newly bolstered frontcourt size, particularly Ewin.
For the Ducks, the backcourt and wing areas feature proven collegiate production. Fred Payne averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists across 34.7 minutes per game last year for Boston College, starting 30 of 31 appearances. While he shot 39.9 percent overall and 31.5 percent from deep with a single-game high of 26 points, adjusting his shot selection in his debut for Eugene remains a primary focal point.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Riley IV brings established wing play after starting 31 games for San Francisco last season. The 6-foot-6 guard averaged 12.2 points and 4.8 rebounds in 31.8 minutes per night, shooting 47.2 percent from the floor and 36.8 percent on 3-point attempts with a high-water mark of 23 points. Riley’s size on the perimeter offers Oregon a distinct matchup advantage as both teams test their rotations in the opening contest.
