Memphis Misses Its Shot to Defeat No. 6 Louisville

Memphis freshman Darius Washington slumped to the court, covering his head in anguish over his two missed free throws.

Washington missed two of three free throws with no time left on the clock, allowing No. 6 Louisville to escape with a 75-74 victory and the Conference USA championship Saturday.

Even the opposing coach -- Louisville’s Rick Pitino -- took a moment out of his team’s celebration to express compassion for Washington.

“The drama was incredible. What was at stake was enormous, and the whole team feels obviously elated that we won. We all feel bad for Darius Washington,” Pitino said. “They wouldn’t have been in that situation if not for his spectacular play.”

Brad Gianiny made one of two free throws with 6.7 seconds left to give the Cardinals (29-4) a two-point lead. Washington was fouled by Francisco Garcia while shooting a three-pointer at the buzzer. He made the first but then bounced the next two off the rim.

Memphis Coach John Calipari said Washington looked at him after the first one and indicated that the game was won.

“The second one went da-ding. He’s probably off a quarter inch, and he was so stunned that he missed it he looked at me. ‘I missed it.’ The last one you think about it the pressure on him to make that shot, I mean it’s amazing he hit the rim,” Calipari said.

Washington dropped to the floor at the free-throw line, prompting the Cardinals to swing immediately from dejection to celebration.

Louisville is on its longest winning streak of the season, with victories in its last nine games and 18 of 19.

Memphis (19-15) had been the only team to beat the Cardinals during the 19-game stretch.