Huskies Squander Late Lead, Lose to Ducks in Heartbreaker

Washington rallies from 21 points down but can't hold on in final seconds against Oregon

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The University of Washington men's basketball team suffered a devastating loss to their rivals, the Oregon Ducks, after squandering a late lead in the final seconds of the game. The Huskies had rallied from a 31-10 deficit to take a 79-76 advantage, but a last-second 3-pointer by Oregon's Kwame Evans Jr. gave the Ducks an improbable 85-79 victory.

Why it matters

This heartbreaking loss is a major blow to the Huskies' season, as they now fall below .500 overall and in conference play. The team had shown great resilience to mount such a big comeback, only to see it slip away in the final moments, raising questions about their ability to close out close games.

The details

With 11.6 seconds remaining and the Huskies up by 3, Oregon inbounded the ball and it eventually found its way to the 6'10" Evans, who was guarded by the much shorter Quimari Peterson. Evans hit a 3-pointer while being fouled, converting the 4-point play to give Oregon the lead. The Huskies were unable to respond in the final seconds, suffering a gut-punch defeat.

  • The Huskies rallied from a 31-10 deficit in the first half.
  • Washington took a 79-76 lead with under 12 seconds remaining in the game.
  • Oregon scored 9 points in the final 11.6 seconds to steal the victory.

The players

Kwame Evans Jr.

A 6'10" forward for the Oregon Ducks who hit the game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds.

Quimari Peterson

A Huskies guard who was defending Evans on the final possession but was unable to prevent the game-deciding shot.

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What’s next

The Huskies' loss will likely impact their seeding for the upcoming conference tournament, where they will look to bounce back and salvage their season.

The takeaway

This heartbreaking defeat highlights the Huskies' struggles to close out close games, a weakness that has plagued them throughout the season and could prevent them from achieving their goals. The team must find a way to overcome these late-game lapses if they hope to turn their season around.