Overtime Loss A Setback For Ducks

Wednesday, February 15

Seattle, WA

8:00 PM

University of Oregon

15-12,9-7Pac-12

Washington

14-13,6-10Pac-12

OT 1

Oregon

Washington

Photo by: GoDucks.com

02/15/23 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Oregon's drive for a first-round Pac-12 Tournament bye and NCAA Tournament consideration took a hit Wednesday.

SEATTLE — Oregon couldn't hold a late lead in regulation and lost in overtime Wednesday at Washington, a setback as the Ducks fight to earn a first-round bye in the Pac-12 Tournament and stay on the NCAA Tournament bubble.

The UO men led by as much as eight in the second half but needed a dunk from N'Faly Dante to force overtime, in which the Huskies scored last in a back-and-forth period to win 72-71. A win would have put the Ducks into the top four of the Pac-12 standings to open the week, and continued the team's recent scramble for NCAA Tournament consideration.

"Just didn't get it done," UO coach Dana Altman said. "Just didn't get it done. … We're real disappointed."

Dante had 19 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Ducks, and Jermaine Couisnard added 18 points. Quincy Guerrier scored 13 and Nate Bittle had 11 points with seven rebounds, but Will Richardson went scoreless after a potential game-winning layup with 3 seconds left was blocked.

How It Happened: A three-pointer from Bittle and a three-point play by Dante had Oregon out to a 7-6 lead before UW answered with four straight. Guerrier then put together a personal 8-0 run including two three-pointers to put the Ducks up 15-10. The Huskies scored the next seven in a row, but the UO men answered with the next six to lead 21-17. UW led 30-27 late in the half before Brennan Rigsby scored to make it a one-point game at the break.

Couisnard hit two early threes in the second half, and Dante had another three-point play during a 6-0 run that put Oregon up 41-35. Moments later, a hook from Dante and two free throws by Keeshawn Barthelemy gave the Ducks their biggest lead, 50-42. But Oregon then went into a 1-of-9 shooting funk, which only ended after UW had closed within one point.

Two putbacks by Bittle and two buckets from Couisnard stabilized Oregon, making it 60-55 as the game clock dipped under 4 minutes. But after Barthelemy had a shot blocked, UW converted a three-point play and Barthelemy turned it over at the other end. Two UW three-pointers sandwiched around another Bittle putback gave the Huskies a 64-62 lead, before Dante scored to tie it and UW missed at the other end to force overtime.

The Ducks led three times in the extra period, the first at 67-66 after a three from Couisnard. Three empty UO possessions followed, before Dante gave Oregon the lead again at 69-68. UW took the lead back, Dante put the Ducks up 71-70 with a putback, and Washington scored again with 28 seconds left. That gave Oregon the chance to hold the ball for a game-winner, but Richardson's drive to the hoop was denied and the Ducks dropped their only regular-season matchup of this year with UW.

Notable: The Ducks began the day as one of the "last four in" to the NCAA Tournament field as projected by Joe Lunardi of ESPN. … Oregon had an 18-6 edge in offensive rebounds, but just a 13-9 edge in second-chance points. … The start of the game was delayed half an hour when one of the baskets had to be replaced. … Richardson has played in 142 games for the Ducks, tied for third in UO history with E.J. Singler (2009-13) and two behind leaders Johnathan Loyd (2010-14) and Payton Pritchard (2016-20). … Richardson's five assists gave him 481 in his career, fifth all-time at Oregon just behind Luke Ridnour (500, 2000-03).

Quotable:
UO coach Dana Altman on what hurt the Ducks on Wednesday
"We had a couple chances to knock them out, and turnovers really hurt us. … We've got experienced guards, but we didn't score with our guards."

UO Dana Altman on how the Ducks move on from the defeat
"We've just got to find a way to win games. We've got to find a way to get in the top four somehow. We've got to win some games."

Up Next: The Ducks will return home to Eugene before heading back on the road to play at Washington State on Sunday (4 p.m., FS1).