Washington Edges Rutgers In Overtime Thriller Amid NCAA Tournament Buzz

Washington Edges Rutgers In Overtime Thriller Amid NCAA Tournament Buzz...

The Washington Huskies defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 78-75 in overtime Saturday afternoon in a high-stakes non-conference showdown at Alaska Airlines Arena. The game is trending nationally as both teams fight for NCAA Tournament consideration, with Washington (18-8) strengthening its resume and Rutgers (16-10) facing increased bubble pressure.

Freshman guard Jamal Crawford Jr. scored a career-high 24 points for Washington, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 1:12 left in overtime. Rutgers' Clifford Omoruyi dominated inside with 21 points and 14 rebounds but missed a potential tying free throw with 3 seconds remaining.

The matchup gained extra attention after ESPN's Joe Lunardi listed both teams among his "Last Four In" bracket projection earlier this week. Washington's victory could move them off the bubble, while Rutgers now faces must-win games against Purdue and Wisconsin to close their regular season.

Social media erupted during the back-and-forth contest, with #WashingtonRutgers trending on Twitter during the overtime period. The game drew particular interest from Big Ten and Pac-12 fans evaluating conference strength ahead of Selection Sunday on March 15.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins praised his team's resilience after blowing a 12-point second-half lead. "This is what March is about," Hopkins told reporters. "Every possession matters, and our guys made enough plays when it counted."

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell lamented his team's 18 turnovers, including a critical miscue in the final minute of regulation. "We beat ourselves in too many key moments," Pikiell said. "But we're not done fighting."

The Huskies improved to 3-0 against Big Ten opponents this season, while Rutgers fell to 1-4 in non-conference road games. Both teams return to conference play next week, with Washington visiting Arizona on Thursday and Rutgers hosting Minnesota on Wednesday.

NCAA selection committee chair Chris Reynolds told CBS Sports this week that non-conference results will carry significant weight in bubble discussions. Saturday's thriller provided exactly the kind of resume-boosting opportunity both programs needed during the stretch run toward March Madness.