Conference play is usually a different animal than the non-conference slate, and for the Washington Huskies' seven freshman, their Pac 12 conference debut against the UCLA Bruins was one that won't be soon forgotten.
This game was a foul fest that was challenging at times, mentally taxing throughout, and had so many ebbs and flows that, as a spectator, you just had to sit back and enjoy.
Just Get To The Finish Already!
The game looked like it was over twice, but UCLA guard Bryce Alford, who finished with a team high 30 points, had something to say about the result... twice. With nine seconds left in regulation, Alford hit his first clutch three to send the game to the first overtime. Then in that first overtime, he came up clutch again with sixteen seconds left to stun the raucous UW crowd and send the game to another overtime session. The Huskies had chances after both of those shots to end it then and there, but were unable to do so at that juncture.
Alford may have kept UCLA in the game, but Washington's Andrew Andrews did more than keep UW in the game, he won it for UW. Behind a 35 point performance, he led both teams in scoring and shots in the clutch all night to keep the Huskies in control. None were bigger, however, than his three pointer in double OT that put UW up three with 2:26 to go. He hit that shot and from there, the Huskies never looked back.
UCLA cut it back down to one point contest with 57 seconds left, but David Crisp answered with a big three to add to his 13 point performance.
The Early Going
Early in this game, there was no way anyone in the packed Alaska Airlines Arena thought this game was destined for what ended up happening. Neither team was shooting well, both teams combined for 23 turnovers as well as 29 fouls. Along with that, the Pac 12's leading scorer in Andrews had three first half fouls.
Washington couldn't buy a bucket as they shot just 26.7 percent from the field in the first half while shooting just 10-for-18 from the foul line. UCLA wasn't much better as they teetered around 32 percent shooting in the first half.
It was going to be a battle of attrition as in total five players ended up fouling out while six others ended with four fouls. Even through all of this, UCLA led UW 33-28 at the half.
Setting Up For The Finish
This game was destined to be a grind it out affair, and in part it was, but a 13-2 run to start the second half for Washington made this a ballgame.
From there Washington held the lead for most of the second half for nearly the rest of the second half until some clutch free throws from UCLA's Isaac Hamilton and Thomas Welsh gave them the lead back with 1:36 to go in regulation.
With Washington needing a bucket, Matisse Thybulle, who played some big minutes and hit some clutch shots when his team needed it most, came up with a big play that gave the Huskies the lead back with 1:15 left. That was followed by an Andrews three that had UW up five before Alford hit UCLA's first three of the game with 22 seconds left. Andrews then nailed two free throws before the aforementioned Alford three that sent the game to OT.
UCLA hit just three shots from behind the arc all night, but they were three of the biggest shots (all from Alford) of the night.
Young Huskies Pass First Test
The Huskies may be a young bunch, but they went out and beat an experienced UCLA team. Their three main big men in Noah Dickerson, Marquese Chriss, and Malik Dime all fouled out and the Huskies were still able to scoot by the 25th ranked Bruins.
UCLA coach Steve Alford deployed a 3-2 zone that gave Washington some fits, but they hit shots over the zone that enabled them to come out victorious. This is not the last time the Huskies will see this defense as they came in shooting just 32 percent from behind the arc.
The Huskies finished with five players in double figures led by Andrews with 35.
UCLA had four players score in double figures led by Alford's 30 and Welsh's 19.
What's Next?
Following this conference opener, the Huskies will welcome in USC to Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday while the Bruins will head to the Palouse to face Washington State on Sunday as well.