NCAA March Madness Basketball Tournament: Walton, Wolverines Fall Short In Loss To Oregon

(UPDATED) METRO DETROIT, MI — Until Thursday night’s Sweet 16 matchup with Oregon, Derrick Walton Jr. had been the hero of the University of Michigan’s season. With seconds remaining, he had a chance to continue those heroics, but his three-point attempt hit the front of the rim, bounced away and the Wolverines’ season came to a crashing 69-68 end.

Oregon (32-5) moves on to play the winner of Kansas and Purdue Saturday in the Elite Eight. The Ducks’ Tyler Dorsey scored on a scoop shot with 1:00 remaining to give his team the winning margin. A critical offensive rebound by the Ducks forced Michigan to foul with 15 seconds left. But Dylan Ennis missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw to give Michigan life.

With fouls to give, the Ducks fouled Michigan with nine seconds left. Michigan inbounded the ball from halfcourt to Walton. He drove to the right of the key, behind the three-point arc, and launched a shot that looked good leaving his hands. But the shot came up short and Oregon snatched the rebound to secure the victory.

Walton led Michigan (26-12) with 20 points and Zak Irvin added 19. Wolverines’ center Moritz Wagner was held to just seven points. Dorsey led Oregon with 20 points.

Michigan trailed 35-33 at halftime as neither team could get on a roll offensively. Third-seeded Oregon’s speed and defensive intensity disrupted the Wolverines offense, often limiting Michigan to poor, long-range shots. The Wolverines connected on just 11 of 28 field goals in the first half.

U-M’s offensive flow didn’t improve much in the second half. Oregon, in fact, led by as many as five points before a Michigan burst put them up 68-65 with 1:54 remaining.

Earlier: The University of Michigan was knocked out of the NCAA March Madness Men's Basketball Tournament after falling to Oregon 69-68 Thursday night in Kansas City.

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