Back in Matthew Knight Arena after losing to UCLA, the Oregon Ducks secured a hard-fought victory over the Washington Huskies with a final score of 85-80, led by Jermaine Cousinard’s season-high 27-point performance. The game commenced with tight competition as both teams exchanged leads. An early flagrant foul committed by Washington against Jackon Shelstad hinted at heightened emotions, yet it failed to escalate further. However, the Ducks swiftly gained momentum, extending their lead to 20 points before Washington mounted a comeback.
Photo Cred: KCBY
In the second half, the Huskies exhibited newfound energy, reducing the 20-point deficit to just one, fueled by a series of consecutive baskets while Oregon struggled to convert. Despite Washington’s resurgence, Oregon’s staunch defense consistently thwarted critical possessions. Moreover, Oregon’s proficiency from the free-throw line in the closing minutes proved decisive, with the Ducks sinking 9 of 12 attempts, including 7 in the final 30 seconds, to maintain their lead. Washington’s chance to equalize dwindled as they air-balled a potential game-tying three-pointer with 21 seconds remaining.
“It was a game of ebbs and flows,” UW forward Keion Brooks Jr. said. “We can’t put ourselves in position to get down by 20. I’m proud of the way we fought all the way to cut it (to one).
“We didn’t give up, but we got to do a better job of not putting ourselves in position to where we got to fight, scrap and crawl out of a hole like that.”
In addition to Cousinard’s stellar performance, N’Faly Dante and Kwame Evans Jr. contributed 15 points each for the Ducks, with Dante also securing eight rebounds. Savhir Wheeler led the charge for Washington with 16 points and seven assists, supported by Keion Brooks Jr. and Braxton Meah, who contributed 15 points, with Meah showcasing remarkable athleticism with four put back or lob dunks within the initial 15 minutes of play.
