Macculloch Swats Ducks Back To Earth Washington Center Hits Winning Layup, Then Puts Uo On Ice With Blocked Shot

Todd MacCulloch, a 7-foot Canadian, gave up playing hockey in junior high school when he couldn’t find skates big enough to fit his growing feet.

He still thinks a lot about the NHL, though.

“It’s like scoring a goal to win the Stanley Cup,” MacCulloch said after making a layup with four seconds left to give Washington a 78-77 victory over No. 17 Oregon in a Pac-10 game Saturday night.

The Ducks (10-2 overall, 1-2 in the Pac-10) lost their second straight after winning their first 10.

MacCulloch scored the winning basket on a pass from Chris Thompson after Jamal Lawrence put Oregon ahead 77-76 with his fifth 3-pointer of the second half with 10 seconds to go.

MacCulloch then ran down the court and blocked Kenya Wilkins’ last-second shot. In Eugene, Ore., last season, MacCulloch blocked a 3-point attempt by Wilkins as Washington won 72-69.

“His block tonight reminded me if of our win down in Eugene last year,” Sanford said.

“It’s a good feeling,” said MacCulloch, a 280-pound sophomore from Winnipeg. “Somebody had to do it.”

MacCulloch hit all eight of the shots he took. He was happy he didn’t hear a whistle on his final one.

“I’m just glad they didn’t call me for traveling or three (seconds) in the key,” he said. “I’m very lucky the ball went in.”

Added Washington coach Bob Bender: “That was one of the best games I’ve ever been involved with. They hit big shots and we responded.”

Mark Sanford led Washington with 21 points and MacCulloch added 19 points and 10 rebounds in 17 minutes. Sanford put the Huskies (9-3, 2-2) ahead 76-74 with a baseline drive for a layup with 24.2 seconds left.

Lawrence, who made 7 of 9 shots in the second half, led Oregon with a season-high 27 points. Kyle Milling had 13 points for the Ducks before fouling out with 5:54 left.

Jamie Booker added 16 points for Washington.

Wilkins, Oregon’s leading scorer who was averaging 17.4 points coming into the game, was limited to five points.

Washington 78, (17) Oregon 77

OREGON (10-2) - Madden 3-8 1-1 7, Milling 4-7 5-6 13, Ramaker 0-2 1-2 1, Wilkins 2-6 1-2 5, Lawrence 10-19 1-1 27, Curry 3-6 0-0 8, Larry 3-5 0-0 7, Carson 2-3 1-1 5, Brown 1-4 0-0 3, McShane 0-2 1-2 1, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-62 11-15 77.

WASHINGTON (9-3) - Sanford 8-17 5-5 21, MacCulloch 8-8 3-5 19, Watts 1-9 4-5 6, Thompson 0-2 1-2 1, Booker 6-10 3-4 16, Femerling 2-5 1-2 5, Walcott 0-0 5-7 5, Wooten 1-3 0-0 3, Luton 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 27-55 22-30 78.

Halftime-Washington 37, Oregon 35. 3-Point goals-Oregon 10-21 (Lawrence 6-11, Curry 2-2, Larry 1-2, Brown 1-2, McShane 0-1, Madden 0-1, Ramaker 0-1, Wilkins 0-1). Washington 2-5 (Wooten 1-1, Booker 1-1, Sanford 0-1, Watts 0-2). Fouled out-Milling, Ramaker. Rebounds-Oregon 30 (Milling 8), Washington 34 (MacCulloch 10). Assists-Oregon 11 (Wilkins 5), Washington 14 (Booker 6). Total fouls-Oregon 27, Washington 15. A-7,523.