SEATTLE – Part two of the men’s hoops equivalent to the cross-state Apple Cup rivalry between Washington and Washington State proved much different than second-half comeback earlier this season.
Six different players scored at least one 3-point attempt in the 80-62 victory for the Huskies (15-6, 5-3). The Cougars (9-11, 1-7) entered the game leading the Pac-12 Conference is 3-point scoring defense and tied with the No. 11 Arizona Wildcats for the best 3-point shooting percentage.
From the opening tip UW connected with ease from deep. Freshman guard Jaylen Nowell scored his first of a pair of 3-pointers, with juniors Dominic Green and Matisse Thybulle each tallying three 3-pointers of their own.
Thybulle, who recorded his second straight game scoring 18 points, made key plays for the Huskies on both ends of the floor, using all of his reportedly 7-foot wingspan to swap away 3-point attempt by Milan Acquaah with 15:19 remaining in the game.
“I just – it’s about the guys committing to getting better. That’s just the bottom line,” UW head coach Mike Hopkins said after the game. “Every time we challenge them, tried to teach them something to learn and move forward. Tonight we hadn’t had one of those nights where 40 minutes of “together” and “one more” and all the words that we use.”
The Huskies led 53-44 at the time of Thybulle’s block. It flipped a switch. The junior followed his highlight reel swat with a dunk, pushing the UW lead back into double-digits for the first time since the 18:56 mark after holding a 15-point halftime lead.
Thybulle added one of four steals, a jumper, and the second of three rebounds before being substituted out with just over 12 minutes remaining.
UW stretched its lead to a game-high 24 points with 4:47 remaining after David Crisp, who Hopkins referred to as “the engine” on both ends of the court after the game. Playing a team-high 33 minutes Sunday after having a week off since beating Colorado on the road, Crisp’s nine points on 4 of 9 shooting and just three assists don’t impress on paper.
But where it matters, on the court, the Seattle-native is the perfect player to orchestrate Hopkins’ marionette.
“He’s the extension that I need as a coach. The voice,” Hopkins said of Crisp, who he called Tom Brady in front of the entire Huskies team earlier in the week with his ability to coordinate the team as a floor general.
“And he’s sacrificed a lot. He’s a scoring guard who’s playing a completely different role and he’s the key guys. Watch the games. He’s finding guys, he’s pushing it, he’s poised, he’s playing great defense. He’s playing to win.”
The Huskies brushed aside any potential déjà vu from the teams first matchup in Pullman, pulling away late in the second half much as they did to close heading into halftime.
WSU held a slim 28-27 lead with 5:04 remaining in the first half after Viont’e Daniels knocked down one of his two 3-pointers in the game. Following the Cougars score UW finished the half on an 18-2 run, including three consecutive 3-pointers from Dominic Green before Robert Franks added a layup just before halftime.
Much of the offensive success for UW was generated in both the players and in Hopkins’ eyes on defense. UW recorded four defensive rebounds, forced two turnovers, Thybulle added one steal. WSU earned one team rebound with :07 seconds remaining before halftime, trailing 45-30 after leading five minutes prior and neither team holding more than a five-point lead prior to the scoring run.
“I say the biggest part is just ball movement,” Thybulle said on being able to make a greater impact. “When we have the ball movement and the defense rotating, it just happened to me today [and] the last few games, but to attack these closeouts it makes it easier for everyone. When Noah [Dickerson] seals down there and he commands all the help it makes it easier for us.”
Dickerson, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three assists, one to Crisp nearly full-court with Russell Wilson-esq precision for an easy layup early, also finished 75 percent (3 of 4) from the free-throw line.
With the win UW improves to 11-2 at Alaska Airlines Arena this season. Up next for the Huskies is a pair of home games against Arizona State on Thursday and concluding with No. 11 Arizona on Sunday.
