Huskies Storm Back From 14-Point Deficit To Beat Utah

Thursday, January 6

Salt Lake City, UT

6:30 PM

University of Washington

6-6,1-1Pac-12

Utah

8-7,1-4Pac-12

Washington

Utah

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

January 06, 2022 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Trailing 50-36 with 14:16 remaining at the Huntsman Center and staring an 0-2 start to conference play in the eyes, the Washington men's basketball team dug deep and lived by its mantra of "Tougher Together". Using lights out shooting from Cole Bajema and Emmitt Matthews Jr., elite playmaking from Terrell Brown Jr. and tenacious defense, the Huskies would close the game on a 38-18 run to walk away with the 74-68 victory.

It was a night to remember for multiple Huskies, as Terrell Brown Jr. scored his 1,500th point in his 100th career game, while Cole Bajema had a career night, setting new highs in points (15) and three-pointers (5).

UW would get out to a quick start in the game, with good ball movement leading to a wide-open layup for Nate Roberts followed by a three-pointer by Daejon Davis to give the Huskies a quick 5-0 advantage.

Followed quickly by a nice triple from Daejon!

Good start for your Dawgs tonight ??

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/AirJvhUgGT https://t.co/j6yFRNN8qe pic.twitter.com/ojgGgkKLih
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) January 7, 2022

Later in the half, Terrell Brown Jr. earned himself a career milestone with a tough layup, good for his 1,500th career point in the 100th career game.

And the bucket that did it didn't come easy ??

1,500 career points and there's still plenty of season left for @TerrellNBrown

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/AirJvhUgGT pic.twitter.com/eG7DYgtMZE
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) January 7, 2022

Utah would look to gain an advantage before halftime, but a steal by Daejon Davis would lead to a Cole Bajema three to beat the halftime buzzer and keep UW close at 37-33.

A @daejondavis steal to a @colebajema22 three closes out the half ??

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/AirJvhUgGT pic.twitter.com/jbj8scOxNm
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) January 7, 2022

While the Utes would extend their lead and take a 14-point lead with under 15 minutes remaining, Washington stayed in the fight and did not give up.

A Cole Bajema triple followed by back-to-back layups from Terrell Brown Jr. would pull the Huskies within 7.

With 7:26 left in the game, Daejon Davis buried a three-pointer in transition to tie the game at 57. On the next possession, he fought his way into the lane for a layup to kickstart a crucial 11-0 run for UW. Three straight possessions of crisp ball movement led to three straight three-pointers by Cole Bajema and Emmitt Matthews Jr. to catapult the Huskies to a 68-59 lead. Going back to the 14:16 mark in the second half, it was an extended 32-9 run for Washington.

Cole! Again!!

That's a career-high five made threes in a single game for @colebajema22 ??

?? @Pac12Network
?? https://t.co/AirJvhUgGT https://t.co/DCvwL6tDJk pic.twitter.com/EWN0r8N3yG
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) January 7, 2022

Turning it up in the final minutes. ???? @THEDOOSKIE

?? Pac-12 Network
?? https://t.co/fgEzjEk9bn @UW_MBB | #GoHuskies | #Pac12MBB pic.twitter.com/lcnHK08nq8
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) January 7, 2022

From then on, the Huskies locked all windows and doors on defense and kept Utah from getting within striking distance. Down the stretch, Emmitt Matthews Jr. (2-2) and Jamal Bey (4-4) calmly made all of their free throws to put the game away for good.

Four different UW players scored in double digits in Daejon Davis (16), Terrell Brown Jr. (15), Cole Bajema (15) and Jamal Bey (14).

Brown Jr. dished out 8 assists and did not turn the ball over a single time.

As a team, UW had 17 assists to just six turnovers. It was the second straight game with just six turnovers, a season-low for the team. The +11 A/TO ratio was also a season-best for the Huskies.

Washington is back in action on Sunday afternoon, when it travels to Boulder for a 2:00 p.m. contest at Colorado on ESPN2.