While it certainly isn’t the biggest headline in Seattle today the Washington Huskies men’s basketball team was in action last night again Colorado State. The 20th ranked Rams remained unbeaten as they battled back and forth with UW. While it’s not a win, playing so closely with a top-20 team at a neutral site should be a morale victory for the Huskies.
Yes, moral victories are welcome this early in the season as the team chemistry builds.
It was an absolute show. 167 total points and 11 lead changes saw the Rams and Huskies light up Las Vegas. Keion Brooks and Moses Wood led the way for the Huskies on offense scoring 21, and 20 respectively.
The Rams did a great job in spreading out the offensive production as they had six players go for 10+ points in comparison to the Huskies four.
It was a game defined by runs in the high scoring affair, momentum would swing back and worth and in the end the Rams where the team that ended on the hot streak, had it been the Huskies I think Washington would have come away with the victory
Things started out strong for the Huskies as they got out to a 7-1 lead in the opening minutes, Sahvir Wheeler was the hot hand from the jump as he scored or assisted the Huskies first nine points.
Washington would relinquish control as the Rams found flow and made up the difference the Rams would push the lead all the way up to 21-12 as the Huskies shot themselves in the foot with multiple offensive fouls and missed free throws. The Huskies went ice cold as Colorado State scored 14 straight points.
But the pendulum would swing again as the lead was once again swapped by a barrage of Husky 3’s. Everyone in purple and blast was getting their shots up as the Huskies turned 12 points into 44 in just 10 minutes. The game flew back and forth as the half came to a close.
It would be the Huskies holding the lead at the break by just 3 points at 44-41. Sahvir Wheeler was making his presence as a point guard felt as he was wracking up assists all night and finished with 12 total.
Coming out of the half the battle seemed to remain even as the Rams were able to take a lead of their own before the Huskies extended it back to seven points. But Colorado State kept pushing and eventually reclaimed momentum as the game came down to the last 5 minutes. With five minutes remaining it was 74-73 Rams.
Colorado State drew first blood after the Huskies timeout extending the lead to three, then five. The game would go cold for a couple of minutes before Moses Wood hit a crucial three to cut the lead to just two points.
The Rams would get good looks to separate but it was Keion Brooks making it 78-78 with a minute and a half left. The Rams finally found their response with a big three and a stop. The Rams hit their free throws to make it 83-78.
Brooks came back and hit a three but it was too little too late as the Rams held on 86-81.
The Huskies definitely left some points on the board with some struggles around the rim. Their production from three mad eup for it as the Huskies shot 40.6-percent from behind the 3-point line.
Defensively UW gave up a fair share of points but had six blocks and six turnovers.
Washington shot under 65-percent from the free throw line, leaving a lot of points on the court, but it was only 5 misses. Sahvir Wheeler’s 13 points and 12 assists gave him a double double on the night and he looked to be one of the more productive Huskies on offense.
Overall, while a loss is disappointing the Huskies proved that they can compete with the top of the barrel teams.
