Soon after its most recent setback — an 84-78 defeat at California for its sixth straight reduction — it’s fair to marvel if the Washington men’s basketball group will win all over again this year.
In a lot of methods this was the activity the Huskies experienced to gain if they had been going to salvage a season which is began so horribly erroneous.
And for extended stretches, UW did so a lot of things proper on Saturday at Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California.
Washington scored more details than it has any other game this time many thanks in huge portion to transfer Erik Stevenson breaking out of a extend slump and tallying 27 points — two shy of his career large.
Jamal Bey experienced yet another amazing outing and concluded with a own-best 18 details, though Quade Green additional 16 factors, on 6-for-15 capturing from the industry, 4 helps and four rebounds.
Buoyed by Stevenson’s 6 three-tips, UW’s dormant perimeter attack last but not least emerged as UW drained 9 of 18 shots driving the arc.
The Huskies gained the struggle of the boards for just the 3rd time this period and out-rebounded the Golden Bears 32-24.
And Washington, which erased a 13-stage 2nd-fifty percent deficit, was in primary posture to eventually accumulate its very first Pac-12 gain heading into the ultimate two minutes with the rating tied 75-75 in opposition to an undermanned Cal staff that was also winless in the convention and without having its ideal participant Matt Bradley, who missed his 2nd straight video game thanks to an ankle injury.
And still, UW managed just 3 details on its five belongings though Cal scored 9 factors on four visits.
“We could not get stops,” UW coach Mike Hopkins stated all through a postgame Zoom call. “We did not execute down the stretch what we wanted to do.”
The Huskies preferred to foul Cal ahead Andre Kelly and put him at the no cost-throw line wherever he’s a 48.8 p.c shooter and was for 3 for the duration of the sport.
In its place, UW surrendered an open up three-pointer to Joe Brown at the major of the essential who put the Bears up 78-75.
On the ensuing possession, Cal blocked Quade Green’s short jumper, which led to a rapid-split layup for Brown.
Bey slash UW’s deficit to a few with a layup just before Kelly scored on a brief hook to increase Cal’s lead to 82-77 with 52 seconds still left.
At the other end, Stevenson manufactured 1 of 2 no cost throws to pull the Huskies within just 4 (82-78). Subsequent an vacant offensive vacation by Cal, Environmentally friendly received a great appear at a a few-pointer that skipped the mark with 12.9 seconds on the clock.
“When we got again in this recreation, we defended as very good as we have in a extended time,” Hopkins mentioned. “We just could not do it about time. That is the trick. Teams are heading to score. You’re not heading to shut them out, but there’s specified ideas that you have that you can not let to materialize.
“And tonight the a few-position shot for selected gamers we authorized to transpire. And which is the result you get when you really don’t execute what you are supposed to execute.”
Cal, which snapped a 3-video game losing streak and improved to 6-7 and 1-5 Pac-12, transformed 11 of 26 a few-pointers. Ryan Betley sank 4 of 7 three-pointers for 18 factors even though Makale Foreman completed with 14 factors on 4-of-9 taking pictures from downtown.
Kelly also torched the Huskies when converting 11 of 13 photographs for a period-higher-tying 22 points.
“I’m not absolutely sure if it was what Cal was performing extra so what we had been not accomplishing which is using absent the three,” Stevenson reported. “It’s having stops. They have been fairly regular with what they were being executing and we were being not regular ample getting stops. Which is how they gained the video game.”
Continue to, the Huskies experienced some fine moments.
Washington was down 40-32 at halftime and trailed by 13 details (45-32) with 18:03 remaining right before seizing momentum and regaining the direct with a 21-5 operate.
Stevenson’s 3-pointer gave Washington a 53-50 direct with 12:29 left. The Huskies led 59-55 when the Golden Bears capitalized on 3 straight UW turnovers to rating 12 unanswered factors and ignite a 15-2 operate go up 70-61 with 6:25 still left.
Washington countered with a 14-5 spurt to tie the activity 75-75 heading into the ultimate two minutes when the offense went chilly.
“You do not want to be chasing groups,” Stevenson reported. “I imagine the word is consistency. Staying consistent more than enough when you do have a lead to build a guide to continue to keep building on that lead. Being dependable with how you got the direct and preserve duplicating what you did to get that direct.”
Washington (1-9, -5) returns house for a short remain before returning to California upcoming week for game titles against Pac-12 chief UCLA and USC.
According to basketball statistician Ken Pomeroy, the Huskies are favored in just two of their remaining 14 common time game titles.
“It’s not like we’re going to give up on the period or tank,” Stevenson claimed. “It’s definitely not effortless. It is not uncomplicated on any of the men. It’s not on me at all. I’ve never been in this posture, so it’s a understanding placement for myself as perfectly as the workforce.
“It’s aggravating to be honest. It’s aggravating getting rid of video games no matter if it’s by five or no matter if it’s by 30. Dropping is losing and it sucks. We’re just seeking for a get.”