Pondexter lifts Washington over Marquette 80-78

[March 19, 2010]  SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Quincy Pondexter drove for a tiebreaking bank shot with 1.7 seconds left, and 11th-seeded Washington extended its remarkable late-season run into the NCAA tournament with an 80-78 victory over Marquette in the first round of the East Regional on Thursday night.

Pondexter scored 18 points and Isaiah Thomas 19 as the Huskies (25-9) won their eighth straight game in dramatic fashion, rallying from a 15-point deficit with 13 1/2 minutes left.

Washington made two late defensive stops before its senior leader drove by Jimmy Butler from the perimeter and scored the winning basket.

Lazar Hayward missed a half-court heave at the buzzer for the sixth-seeded Golden Eagles (23-11), who didn't manage a field goal in the final 4:33.

Washington will face the winner of third-seeded New Mexico's late game against Montana at the Shark Tank, which was filled with Huskies fans.

[Associated Press; By GREG BEACHAM]

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.