Washington Beats Saint Mary's to Capture Wooden Legacy

Thursday, November 24

Anaheim, CA

9:30 PM

University of Washington

5-1,0-0Pac-12

Saint Mary's

6-1,0-0WCC

OT 1

Washington

Saint Mary's (CA)

November 25, 2022 | Men's Basketball

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) Keion Brooks Jr. had 14 points and 11 rebounds, PJ Fuller II made a game-tying shot to force overtime, and Washington (5-1) beat Saint Mary's (RV) 68-64 on Thursday night in the championship game of the Wooden Legacy.

Head Coach Mike Hopkins on the win: "Really proud of these guys. It took a lot of grit, a lot of toughness and a lot of togetherness and these guys showed up. Saint Mary's is a championship program. They have one of the best defenses so far in the country, they're great from the 3-point line and I thought we had one of our better defensive nights. We got back in the game, tied it up, and then the guys just fought through. I'm really proud of our guys and it was a tough fought win."

Fuller tied it at 58-all on a three-point play with 52 seconds left in regulation. Saint Mary's missed two long 3-pointers on its next possession and Washington wasn't able to get a shot off before the buzzer.

Let's go PJ!!

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— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) November 25, 2022

Washington center Braxton Meah made two free throws for a 63-62 lead with 1:18 left in overtime. Then Meah blocked a shot at the other end, Washington's seventh of the game, and Brooks made a jumper for a 65-62 lead.

Saint Mary's missed another long 3-pointer and Fuller made two free throws with 15.3 left for a 67-62 lead. The Gaels converted in the lane with 3.7 left but Washington sealed it at the line.

Koren Johnson added a career-high 11 points and Franck Kepnang had 10 points before fouling out with 2:30 left in regulation for Washington (5-1). Meah, a Fresno State transfer, had four points and eight rebounds.

Mitchell Saxen led Saint Mary's (6-1) with 19 points and eight rebounds. Kyle Bowen added 12 points.

Washington won the Wooden Legacy for second time after also winning the trophy in 2014. Brooks Jr. was named MVP while Kepang was also named to the All-Tournament team. The Huskies handed the Gaels their first lost of the season and now own a 7-1 advantage in the all-time series.

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— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) November 25, 2022