EUGENE, Ore. – Led largely by three freshman once again, the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats picked up a new learning experience Thursday.
The Wildcats lost 74-73 to Oregon in their first overtime game of the season, despite getting a fourth-straight double-double from Zeke Nnaji, 20 points from Nico Mannion and another 17 from Josh Green.
Mannion had a chance to give the Wildcats the win in the final seconds, too. But he first missed a six-foot floater and, after the ball eventually went out of bounds, giving UA a last chance to inbound the ball for a final shot with 2.1 seconds left, Mannion’s pass went off Green’s hands.
The ball landed instead in the hands of Oregon's Payton Pritchard, who threw the ball overhead as time expired.
The loss dropped UA to 11-4 overall and 1-1 in the Pac-12, with a two-day break ahead before the Wildcats face Oregon State in Corvallis on Sunday. Ninth-ranked Oregon improved to 13-3 and 2-1.
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Wildcats shot 45% from the field and made 8 for 20 3-pointers after making a combined 7 for 31 from long range over their past two games.
Neither team scored for the first minute of overtime, with Josh Green darting down the right sideline for a layup to give UA a 68-66 lead with 3:48 left. But the Wildcats missed two shots that normally go in: A runner along the baseline from Mannion and a wide-open 3 from Jemarl Baker, allowing Oregon to take a 71-68 lead when Will Richardson made a three-point play with 2;28 left.
Mannino came back with a pullup 3-pointer to tie the game at 71 with 1:35 left. On Oregon’s next possession, Pritchard missed a 3-pointer but the Ducks rebounded his missed shot, and Pritchard drew a foul, making 1 of 2 to give Oregon a 72-71 lead with 48 seconds left.
UA coach Sean Miller then called a timeout with 42 seconds left and, after Dylan Smith bounced the ball out of bounds while trying to find Zeke Nnaji along the left baseline, Josh Green stole the ball from Oregon and drove in for a layup that gave UA a 73-72 lead with 21 seconds left.
But Oregon’s Will Richardson drove inside on the other end of the court for a layup to give Oregon a 74-73 lead and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ failed to score on its final possession.
Entering the final minute of regulation, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was in position to grow a 66-64 lead but Mannion lost control of the ball in the middle of the Ducks’ defense and Oregon called a timeout with 44 seconds left after it was unable to hit a quick shot.
After the timeout, Pritchard hit a 12-foot turnaround jumper to tie it and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ had a chance for a final game-winner but, after Mannion passed Nnaji about 17 feet from the basket, Nnaji missed the ensuing jumper.
The Wildcats held the lead for all but four of the game’s first 15 minutes but the Ducks took a 60-57 lead with 5:34 left after Pritchard and Chris Duarte hit 3-pointers on back-to-back Oregon possessions, with Pritchard first tying the game after Richardson picked up a loose ball and dished it to Pritchard.
Two free throws and a layup from Nnaji, after Dylan Smith drove inside and passed to Nnaji just right of the basket, gave UA the lead back at 61-60. Smith later canned a 3 from the top of the key go put UA ahead 64-60.
After ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ led the entire first half, Oregon had a layup from Chris Duarte and a dunk by Francis Okoro to take a brief two-point lead early in the second half. But a jumper from Mannion and 3-pointer from Dylan Smith gave UA a 43-38 lead with 16:51 left and the Wildcats held a slight lead for most of the next 10 minutes before Pritchard tied it 57 with a 3-pointer 6:12 left
Nnaji hit double-figure rebounds in the first half alone, grabbing 10 before halftime while guard Nico Mannion had 10 points.
Their efforts helped UA lead the entire first half, taking leads of up to 11 points before Oregon cut it to one possession at the end.
Mannion sparked the Wildcats early, scoring their first three field goals while the Wildcats kept Oregon scoreless for over four minutes to start the game.
The Wildcats had a 7-0 lead before Oregon’s Payton Pritchard hit a 3-pointer with 15:36 left in the half and took leads of up to 11 points later in the half before the Ducks cut into their lead late in the half, succeeding at times with a zone and some fullcourt presses.
The Ducks were playing without starting forward C.J. Walker because of back and knee injuries.
Knowing the Wildcats could be in for a rough weekend ahead at Oregon and Sunday at Oregon State, Miller set the big picture in front of them.
“The one thing is, we can't panic if the win or loss doesn't bounce our way,†Miller said. “We have 17 games ahead of us and I think we know who our team is. We're trying to improve and the one thing we don't have on our side, for sure, is experience. And we have three (freshmen) players that we count on a lot, that this is their first Pac 12 road trip, their first time playing at Oregon. So with that, we have to be smart. We can't panic.â€
Photos: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ falls on the road to Oregon 74-73 in overtime, Pac-12 basketball
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Nico Mannion (1) gets hacked by Oregon forward Chandler Lawson (13) on his drive and ended up with a three-point play on the free-throw during the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Nico Mannion (1), left, forward Zeke Nnaji (22) and center Chase Jeter (4) head down court to start the second half against Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Zeke Nnaji (22) can't get his hand on the pass against Oregon during the second half in their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Jake DesJardins (55), left, and center Christian Koloko (35) can't believe the Wildcats didn't get the call during overtime against Oregon in their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Sean Miller gives guard Nico Mannion (1) a big attaboy after he drew a foul on his bucket against Oregon in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
Oregon head coach Dana Altman looks up with his Ducks trailing ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ late in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Dylan Smith (3) flies under Oregon center N'Faly Dante (1) for a wrap around pass under the basket in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
Oregon guard Payton Pritchard (3) gets a chunk of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Nico Mannion (1) on his shot in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
Oregon guard Will Richardson celebrates with center N'Faly Dante after drawing a foul in overtime of the Ducks' win over ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on Jan. 9.Â
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Ira Lee (11) reacts on the bench as the Wildcats slip out of the lead late in overtime against Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Nico Mannion (1) draws a crowd but can't draw the foul on his drive against Oregon in the dying seconds of overtime at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Stone Gettings (13), left, and guard Jemarl Baker Jr. (10) temporarily swipe the ball out the hand of Oregon guard Will Richardson (0) during a scramble in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
Oregon guard Payton Pritchard (3) lets go with a yell after draining a long distance three late against ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ head coach Sean Miller welcomes guard Josh Green (0) onto the court as the Wildcats are introduced to the Oregon crowd at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ center Chase Jeter (4) muscles a shot over a crowd of Duck defenders including Oregon forward Shakur Juiston (10) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Zeke Nnaji (22) tries for a put back against Oregon in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Max Hazzard (5) dives in too late to swipe the ball from Oregon guard Chris Duarte (5) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Stone Gettings (13) can't keep Oregon guard Will Richardson (0) from getting off an acrobatic shot in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Stone Gettings (13), bottom, manages to keep the ball away from Oregon forward Chandler Lawson (13) using his legs, forcing a held ball call in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Josh Green (0) drives to the lane by Oregon guard Chris Duarte (5) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Dylan Smith (3), left, and guard Josh Green (0) try to squeeze down on Oregon guard Chris Duarte (5) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ center Christian Koloko (35) tries to get his hands on a defensive rebound against Oregon in the first half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
Oregon guard Chris Duarte (5) drives his way into the lane by ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Jemarl Baker Jr. (10) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ guard Nico Mannion (1) gets off a soft jumper over Oregon guard Chris Duarte (5) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ center Christian Koloko (35) out jumps Oregon forward Chandler Lawson (13) for and inlet pass and bucket in the first half of their Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs Oregon
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ forward Zeke Nnaji (22) comes to Oregon to dunk, as he and the Wildcats prepare to face the Ducks in a Pac-12 game at Matthew Knight Arena, January 9, 2020.
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at 573-4146 or bpascoe@tucson.com. On Twitter @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
