Kepnang blocks six shots, Huskies down Utes 74-65

In its final outing of the calendar year, Washington (9-4, 1-1) toppled the visiting Utah Utes (8-5) 74-65. The Monday evening victory marks the final bout with a non-Big Ten squad for the remainder of the regular season.

Now winners of its last two, Washington has recovered well from what was a potentially season-staggering loss to Seattle U. The first of the two victories was a blowout against San Diego. The latter is more impressive as it comes against a Power Four foe. Additionally, it was a great response to the indefinite loss of Wesley Yates III, who had wrist surgery.

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Without Yates available, Washington needs a scorer to step up and fill the shoes that he’s averaged 14.9 points per game in. Former five-star Zoom Diallo appears to have accepted that role, pouring in 24 points on 9-14 shooting. Desmond Claude added 21 while Hannes Steinbach continued to impress, scoring 20 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.

There’s a saying in life that goes “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” It’s typically great advice. But applying it when attacking Franck Kepnang under the rim left Utah with headaches. The Husky big was an anchor in the middle of UW’s zone. He racked up six blocks along with nine rebounds and four points.

Washington entered halftime trailing 37-36, but it felt like there would be opportunities to take the game over if they could string together stops. That came to fruition in the second half. The Huskies were the more talented team, and the talent gap is why Washington still felt in control even when Utah trimmed the lead to three with 3:07 left.

In response, Diallo scored on consecutive possessions and later netted two free throws to put the game away. In between those four points, Desmond Claude knocked down a short mid-range jumper to pad UW’s lead.

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Diallo’s free throws gave UW a 74-65 edge, and that score held through the final 23 seconds.

Washington’s New Year’s Resolution: more nights like that.

It wasn’t an overly impressive victory. Washington’s offense wasn’t a treat to watch. Yet the Huskies still got it done in the end, and that matters far more than anything else. Expectations have hindered, but reaching the NCAA Tournament isn’t a dead dream, and staying composed in close games is how you shift narratives.

Next time Washington takes the floor, Big Ten play will be fully underway. It travels to Indiana on Jan. 4, then #5 Purdue on Jan. 7. The next three games are at home against Ohio State, #2 Michigan (which looks like the best team in the country), and #9 Michigan State.

Big Ten hoops!