The Washington Huskies controlled the final 25 minutes of Saturday night’s game and cruised to a 57-69 win over the Gophers. Washington, led by freshman Hannes Steinbach, shot 63% from the field, the program’s best shooting percentage in a game since 2017. Steinbach scored 26 points for the Huskies with 9 rebounds on 12/17 shooting. Zoom Diallo was also highly efficient, shooting 7/8 for 17 points.
Both teams have had significant injury issues this season and came into the game with four conference
wins and lingering in the 12th/13th range in the Big Ten.The depleted Gophers were without starting center, Jaylen Crocker-Johnson for this game and were essentially reduced to a 6-man rotation. Cade Tyson got back over 20 points for the first time since early January with 22 points and nine rebounds.
THE STAT: The Gophers were awful from three on Saturday evening. As a team, they were 7/28, missing a number of open looks.
TURNING POINT: With 4:46 in the first half, Minnesota led 26-25 after a Bobby Durkin three. Washington went on a 14-0 run to close out the half and take a 13-point lead into the break. The run continued in the second half to be a 23-4 fun and Washington quickly led by 18. Minnesota scored in the final few minutes to make this game appear closer than it was.
HOT: Everybody for Washington, but this was largely a function of the Gopher defense. The Huskies scored 44 of their 69 points in the paint and it was often much too easy.
NOT: Three point shooting was mentioned above. It was a paltry 25%, with 28 attempts. But Isaac Asuma, Langston Reynolds and Kai Shinholster were particularly off, combining to go 1/13.
NOTABLE: This game tied for a season low in points and it was the fewest assists Minnesota has had in a game since losing to San Francisco in November.
UP NEXT: Minnesota remains on the West Coast to take on Oregon on Tuesday. It is a 9:30 PM tipoff on FS1.
