University of Washington
6-3,0-0Pac-12
Gonzaga
7-2,0-0WCC
Washington Downs No. 7 Gonzaga, 78-73, In Seattle
December 09, 2023 | Men's Basketball
SEATTLE (AP) - Keion Brooks Jr. scored 17 points, Sahvir Wheeler added 16, and the Huskies rallied from an 11-point deficit early in the second half to beat No. 7 Gonzaga 78-73 on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd at Alaska Airlines Arena.
The Huskies (6-3) snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs and picked up their first win over their in-state foe since a 99-95 victory in 2005, also in Seattle. It was also Washington's first win over a top 10 opponent since beating Arizona in the 2017-18 season.
"To be with your family, friends - a lot of our parents, the parents of some of our players were there - to do it in front of our home crowd, in front of our city, a team that has had our number since 2005, one of the best college basketball programs in the country, it means a lot," Head Coach Mike Hopkins said.
Wheeler was responsible for some of the biggest shots in Washington's rally, but he had plenty of help. Brooks added eight rebounds and made four key free throws in the final minute. Moses Wood added 12 points and Koren Johnson scored 11 off the bench.
Franck Kepnang also had a big game controlling the paint with 14 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots for Washington.
Graham Ike led Gonzaga (7-2) with 18 points and Nolan Hickman scored 17. But Washington was able to slow down Hickman after he scored 15 in the first half, and Gonzaga went through a miserable spell of cold shooting in the final minutes.
Gonzaga made just one of its final 12 shots and its only points in the final seven minutes, 12 seconds came on Ike's three-point play with one minute remaining.
The Huskies held the Zags to just 26% shooting, 0-for-9 on three-point attempts and nine turnovers in the second half.
Gonzaga also had its streak of 16 straight wins over Pac-12 teams snapped.
The Bulldogs led 57-46 early in the second half after the Huskies started the half 1 of 10 shooting, but Washington slowly chipped away. The Huskies pulled even at 66-all with 8:56 left on Wheeler's fastbreak layup and took their first lead since the opening minute on another Wheeler layup for a 72-70 lead with 3:41 left.
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Huskies in front!#TougherTogether pic.twitter.com/8ycMEfdxu9
— Washington Men's Basketball (@UW_MBB) December 10, 2023
That was Washington's final made basket, but the Huskies were 6 of 6 at the foul line in the final minutes making some of the key plays that they failed to in close losses to San Diego State and Colorado State earlier in the season.
The Huskies beat at team ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time since toppling Baylor in the 2019 season opener. Washington's last win against a top 10 team was against Arizona in February 2018.
Next on the schedule, UW plays at crosstown rival Seattle on Sunday, Dec. 17 at Climate Pledge Arena. Tickets are available.
Keep up with the Dawgs all season long on Instagram and X/Twitter @UW_MBB
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