Ashlon Jackson drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the horn to lift No. 3 Duke past No. 2 LSU, 87-85, in the Sweet 16 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. The shot, a wild bank off the glass that spun around the rim before finally dropping, sent the Blue Devils storming into the Elite Eight.
The entire game flipped in the final 10 seconds. LSU's Mikaylah Williams calmly sank two free throws that put the Tigers ahead with 9.2 seconds remaining. On the ensuing possession, a frantic scramble sent the ball out of bounds off an LSU player with 2.6 seconds left, setting up Duke's last inbounds play and Jackson's game-winner, as reported by WGNO, which ran an Associated Press dispatch.
The victory pushed Duke to 27-8 while LSU closed its season at 29-6, and it punched the Blue Devils' ticket to a regional final against top-seeded UCLA. Highlights from ESPN show the spin-and-drop finish and the chaotic sequence that set it up.
How the final seconds unfolded
With 2.6 seconds to play, Duke inbounded quickly. The ball found Jackson on the wing, and her long 3-pointer took a dizzying tour around the rim before falling through as the horn sounded. As the shot dropped, Duke players poured onto the court in celebration while LSU's bench and fans were left stunned by the sudden turnaround.
What's next for Duke
Duke now heads into an Elite Eight showdown with No. 1 UCLA on March 29, a regional final that will test the Blue Devils against one of the nation's top teams. ESPN's tournament coverage has framed the result as one of Friday's pivotal moments that reshaped the bracket, with the winner in Sacramento moving on to Final Four weekend.
Jackson, a senior guard and steady scoring threat all season, now has one of the tournament's signature finishes on her résumé. For more context on her role and the rest of the Blue Devils' roster, see the 2025-26 quick facts and media guide from Duke Athletics.
