In a game with seven ties and 10 lead changes, Andrew Andrews coolly nailed a jumper from the top of the key with one second remaining to give the Washington Huskies a 52-50 win over Colorado at the Coors Event Center in Boulder Thursday.
Andrews was 2 for 11 from the field as he took the pass from teammate Nigel Williams-Goss outside the three-point arc along the left wing with six seconds left. The junior guard displayed no lack of confidence as he dribbled down a Buffaloes defender and pulled up for the game-winner from 16 feet.
A steal by Andrews on Colorado’s last possession provided the Huskies their winning opportunity.
Williams-Goss had a game-high 16 points while Andrews had 10 points and seven rebounds. After dropping four games in a row, Washington (14-4, 3-3) has won three consecutive Pac-12 Conference games to right the ship.
Colorado (9-9, 2-4) lost its fourth consecutive game after taking a 24-19 halftime lead. The Buffaloes played without starting center Josh Scott (back) and power forward Xavier Johnson (one-game suspension), yet held Washington big men Shawn Kemp Jr. and Robert Upshaw without a point in the first half.
In fact, Washington went almost the first seven minutes of the first half without making a field goal. That run ended when Williams-Goss made a lay-in at 13:14. Washington took a 10-9 lead at 9:58 only to surrender a 12-2 run over the next four minutes as the Buffaloes out-rebounded the Huskies 20-16, including eight offensive rebounds, for six second-chance points.
After shooting 30 percent over the first 20 minutes, the Huskies were much better from the floor. A 12-5 run early in the second half squared the game at 33 with 15:14 to play. Once again utilizing its improved defense to lead to transition offense, the Huskies pulled ahead. They built a 46-42 lead after Andrews connected on a 3-point field goal at 8:25 for his first make of the game.
Leading 48-42 following a Kemp slam, Washington watched Colorado surge with an 8-0 run over a four-minute span to take a 50-48 lead. The Huskies buckled down on defense, and controlled the glass. Two Mike Anderson free throws tied at 50 with 2:16 to play, and after multiple scoreless trips for either side, Andrews came up clutch.
Coach Lorenzo Romar played six players in the team’s third game without starting forward Jernard Jarreau, out until late February after arthroscopic knee surgery. The only bench points came from Donaven Dorsey, all six in the first half.
Jaron Hopkins scored 11 points to lead Colorado. Wesley Gordon added 10 including a dramatic put-back dunk over two defenders late in the second half.
The Huskies continue a three-game road swing with a matchup Sunday against Utah and its leading candidate for Pac-12 player of the year, Delon Wright.
1 Comment
Very good game by the Dawgs. I wish the bench was used more but with the game tight as it was normally a coach will tighten the rotation. Loved the slam by Kid Reign. I think by season’s end he and Upshaw are going to be very formidable.