Recap : Washington beat Washington State 67-60 to claim the outright Pac-10 title. I'll have more from the celebration on the floor and the post-game reaction from both locker-rooms in a little bit.
The game was a back and forth affair. There were seven ties and five lead changes. The largest lead for the Cougs was five in the first half. The largest lead for UW was nine towards the end of the game.
Twice down the stretch the Cougars pulled within two but couldn't get over the hump. At the 5:50 mark, Taylor Rochestie hit a three to make the score 54-52. Right after that UW outscored WSU 4-1 to take a 58-53 lead.
Then Rochestie hit another three at the 4:22 mark to pull the Cougs closer at 58-56. UW outscored Washington State 11-4 to close out the game.
Despite Jon Brockman, Isaiah Thomas and Justin Dentmon combining to only score 25 points, Washington was still able to pull out the win. The Huskies were led by the 16 points of Quincy Pondexer, who shot 7-of-12 from the field in 30 minutes of play.
Venoy Overton was huge in the win. The sophomore from Franklin High School in Seattle finished with 14 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the free throw line and 3-of-5 shooting from the floor and despite Rochestie scoring 23, played great defense on the senior. With primarily Overton on him, Rochestie committed five turnovers.
Even-though he had just seven points, Brockman contributed in his typical hardworking ways. The senior from Snohomish finished with 18 rebounds, six on the offensive end.
Washington was just 2-of-10 (20%) from the three-point line, but countered that by going 17-of-23 (73%) from the free throw line.
The bench for Washington also came up huge as they outscored Wazzu 26-6. In addition, Washington had the advantage with points in the paint, 32-18, and points off of turnovers (12-8).
The Cougars weren't at full strength as senior Daven Harmeling missed the game after he suffered a right shoulder strain in practice on Thursday. Also, Klay Thompson played the majority of the game in foul trouble and finished with just nine points on 3-of-7 shooting.
Washington State, normally a good three-point shooting team, were just 4-of-13 from behind the arc. Thompson, who set a WSU freshman record for threes, attempted just two and hit one.
Baynes was the second leading scorer for the Cougars as he finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Baynes finished 8-of-10 from the free throw line and 4-of-5 from the field.
Next up for the Huskies will be the Pac-10 tournament. Washington will play on Thursday at 2:30 PM.
Post-Game Locker-Room:
Jason Puckett
In-Game Coverage:
7:00 - UW leads by five, 52-47. This game is even down the line. Both teams are virtually deadlocked on every single stat. FG the game. Points in the paint, UW (22) WSU (18).
10:02 - Doesn't matter who you are rooting for...this has been a great game. Back and forth action all game long. Whoever has the last run in them will come out on top.
11:43 - after leading 39-31, the Cougs have gone on a 10-3 run to pull withing one at 42-41. Thompson has five points in the second half, however, he picked up his fourth foul at the 11:43 mark.
15:29 - UW is on a 7-0 run after Dentmon hit a pump-fake three to put them up 39-31. Four different Huskies have scored in the second half: Gant, Pondexter, Thompson and Dentmon.
Forrest for WSU has four of WSU's six points. Thompson checked out of the game at the 17:17 mark with his third foul. Thompson has struggled all day long going 1-of-5. WSU won't win if he doesn't at some point get it going. WSU is in danger of letting this get away.
At the half....UW leads 30-25. The Huskies closed out the first half on a 5-0 run. Their last bucket came with one second on the shot-clock on a in-bounds play where the Huskies were under their own basket and lobbed the ball in the paint to Darnell Gant and he scored as the clock expired.
Like the first game, Washington is killing Washington State on the glass, 25-15. Brockman has nine first-half rebounds. His counterpart, Aaron Baynes has 11 points and six rebounds. Baynes has been efficient from the free throw line where he is 5-for-6.
Venoy Overton has three first half fouls but also has six points on 4-of-5 from the free throw line. Pondexter leads the Huskies with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting. UW is just 1-of-7 from behind the three-point line and the Cougars have attempted just three and haven't made one.
Even though Brockman has nine rebounds, he's scored just five points. Brockman, Dentmon and Thomas have scored a combined 10 points. Dentmon has three and Thomas has struggled with two points on 1-of-7 shooting. UW has to feel pretty good leading by five with those guys not contributing offensively.
For the Cougars, Klay Thompson has just two points on 1-of-5 shooting, however, all of his looks have been good they just just gone in and out. Caleb Forrest, usually an effective shooter from the floor has been left wide open and he has yet to be effective, making just 1-of-5 shots.
It's been real testy between Rochestie and Overton in the first half, let's see if that carries over into the second half.
3:32 - It's gettin' chippy out there between Rochestie and Overton...Venoy picked up his third foul with 3:33 left in the first half. UW leads 25-23. Pondexter has been on fire, scoring the teams six of their last 10 points. Overton is 4-of-5 from the floor and the rest of the team is 5-of-16.
7:33 - Both teams have seen the lid close on the bucket. UW doesn't have a basket since the 12:35 mark. During that stretch WSU has gone on a 4-0 run to tie the game.
11:56 - UW leads 15-13. UW trailed 11-4 then went on a 6-0 to take a 10-9 lead. WSU came back on a bucket by Rocheste to take a 11-10 lead. Just after that UW answered with a 5-0 run to go up 15-11. Venoy Overton had a a huge old fashion three-point play. Right after that UW forced a turnover and Justin Holliday hit a midrange jumper.
WSU leads Uw 9-7. The Cougs were about to take a 11-4 lead after a block by Aaron Baynes, but Marcus Capers had his shot blocked by Quincy Pondexter on the other end and that led to a three by Justin Dentmon.
The Cougs are really focusing on getting the ball to Baynes early on. Also, every time Brockman gets the ball on the block he's being doubled, however, if he makes a quick decision and looks to the opposite block the Cougars are leaving a man wide open.
Seattle - Washington and Washington State meet today at Hec-Ed, a Washington win will clinch the Pac-10 title for the Huskies. A Washington State win would increase their chances of making the NCAA tournament.
One injury note for the Cougars, senior Daven Harmeling is out for the game with a right shoulder sprain. Harmeling suffered the injury in practice on Thursday.
Cougars warmup before today's game Jason Puckett/950 KJR
Husky fans jeer the Cougars arrival on the court Jason Puckett/950 KJR
Washington arrives to a loud applause from the Husky faithful Jason Puckett/950 KJR
Jason Puckett
Huskies beat Seattle University
Tuesday 03-03-2009 9:55pm PT
Seattle - The Washington Huskies defeated Seattle University, 87-60. Jon Brockman led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds. SU was held to just 37 percent shooting in the game. UW on the other hand shot 56 percent from the floor.
Heading down to the locker room and will have more audio and video shortly.
Huskies vs. Seattle University: Second half...
Tuesday 03-03-2009 9:45pm PT
4:12 - Wolfinger attempts and hits a three. So, if you had 2:10, you are a winner.
6:22 - Joe Wolfinger has now checked into the game. How long will it take him before he shoots a three?
9:04 - Wallace scores his first bucket and the place explodes! What a great story for Wallace. here's a guy who when he came to Washington was expected to be a major contributor but his role has significantly changed and now he serves as a mop up player. But, for him not to be discouraged and battle through an off-season knee surgery is a compliment to him as a player and person.
9:46 - Brockman has checked out of the game and little used forward Artem Wallace has checked in and received a heroes welcome from the fans and his teammates.
11:15 - Almost at the half-way point of the game and UW leads 64-33. UW still has Isaiah Thomas, Venoy Overton and Jon Brockman still in the game. With what happened to Pondexter in the first half, at what point do you pull your starters if you are Lorenzo Romar?
16:47 - Starting to get a little ugly for SU. UW leads 52-21. UW is just way too physical and athletic for SU, plain and simple. UW has 18 fast-break points, SU has yet to score one single fast-break point.
The second half is underway and Q-Pon is in the lineup to start the second half. The Husky media department just informed us that Pondexter suffered bruised ribs in the first half.
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