Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

Washington forward Quincy Pondexter, right, celebrates after beating Marquette on Thursday. Pondexter hit the game-winning basket with 1.7 seconds left.

Darius Johnson-Odom had 19 points and Cubillan added 14 for the Eagles, who also finished strong in the regular season to earn a surprisingly high seed. Even when Marquette was up 15 while racing up and down, coach Buzz Williams knew his team wasn’t safe.

“It was fool’s gold for us,” Williams said. “We weren’t doing what we needed to do defensively, and that was because the game was going too fast. (We) had to play our five best players too many minutes in the second half. With the game going that fast, it wears us down. That’s why it’s fool’s gold.”

Marquette’s loss completed an ugly 1-3 opening day for the mighty Big East, which put eight teams in the NCAA tournament, most of any conference. No. 2 seed Villanova posted the league’s only victory despite an overtime scare from 15th-seeded Robert Morris.

Washington’s win was a welcome development for the beleaguered Pac-10, which got just two teams into the NCAAs after a down season for the league.

Sporting new haircuts featuring patterns and uniform numbers etched in the left sides of their heads, the Eagles kept pace with the Huskies, but couldn’t execute their deliberate offense late. The Big East’s top 3-point shooting team went 12 for 19, but lost for the eighth time in an astonishing 16 games decided by four points or fewer this season.

Marquette jumped ahead with a 15-1 run shortly after halftime, getting eight points from Hayward while taking a 60-45 lead. Washington answered with a 13-2 run in less than three minutes, and eventually took a 72-71 lead on Turner’s 3-pointer with 5:20 left.

Marquette went back ahead on Cubillan’s 3-pointer moments later — but it was the Eagles’ final field goal. Hayward didn’t score in the final six minutes.

“I’ve always told my teammates to keep faith, and anything can happen,” said Thomas, who’s playing through pain in his injured left hand. “I’m in my teammates’ ears all through the game. We’re never out of it. Play defense, and we can come out of it with wins like this.”

More news

Mark J. Terrill / AP

Gordon reacted to article right way

CBT: Drew Gordon is taking a different approach to SI's UCLA article than Reeves Nelson, one much more likely to result in hearing his name called come NBA draft day.

Former Indiana coach Watson dies at 88

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - Former Indiana coach and player Lou Watson has died at the age of 88.

Headlines

• Label

CBT: Cincinnati, Xavier to continue rivalry

CBT: 4 Indiana schools extend Crossroads Classic

CBT: Stony Brook says it's staying put ... for now

CBT: Will Michigan re-hang the Fab Five banners?

CBT: Is the new early entry deadline working?

CBT: Fine's wife to sue ESPN for libel

CBT: Coach K gets a lot of bucks and bennies

CBT: ACC will include all 14 teams in tournament