Kwame Evans Jr. Lifts Oregon Ducks to Victory Over Washington Huskies in Season Finale

EUGENE, Ore. — Kwame Evans Jr. Delivered a clutch performance, scoring the final nine points of the game to propel the Oregon Ducks to an 85-79 victory over the Washington Huskies on Saturday night at Matthew Knight Arena. The win marked Senior Night for the Ducks, ending the regular season on a high note.

Evans Jr.’s Heroics Seal the Deal

Evans Jr. Finished the game with a team-high 20 points and seven rebounds, shooting 11-of-13 from the free-throw line. His pivotal three-pointer with 11 seconds remaining tied the game at 79-79, and he subsequently converted an and-one free throw to give Oregon the lead.

Following a missed shot by Washington, the Huskies’ bench was assessed two technical fouls with five seconds left. Evans Jr. Capitalized, making five of six free throws to secure the six-point win.

“It was the ultimate feeling,” Evans Jr. Said. “I wanted to come through for the seniors. The possessions before that weren’t too good, but something had to fall. It was really great to get the win and hit my free throws. It was a tough year for us, and winning the last game was a good feeling.”

Game Recap

The Ducks started strong, building a significant lead in the first half with a 16-0 run that extended their advantage to 29-8 with 9:29 remaining before halftime. Oregon shot 57.7 percent from the floor and 8-of-13 from three-point range, taking a 44-30 lead into the intermission.

Washington mounted a comeback in the second half, led by Hannes Steinbach, who scored a game-high 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. The Huskies shot 51.7 percent after halftime and were perfect from the free-throw line (14-of-14) in the period, briefly taking the lead with 24 seconds remaining.

However, Evans Jr.’s late-game heroics proved to be the difference.

Key Contributors

Alongside Evans Jr., Nate Bittle contributed 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists for Oregon. Takai Simpkins added 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting, while Drew Carter and Dezdrick Lindsay chipped in with 10 and 11 points, respectively.

Senior Recognition

Prior to the game, Oregon honored seniors Nate Bittle, Drew Carter, Oleksandr Kobzystyi, Takai Simpkins, and Miles Stewart for their contributions to the program.

Up Next

Oregon (12-19, 5-15 Big Ten) will face Maryland on Tuesday in Chicago to open the Big Ten Tournament. The game is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on Peacock. Source

Kwame Evans Jr. Has recorded his fifth 20-point game of the season. Source