On a night when most were handing out roses, the Washington Huskies were busy taking control. Saturday's 67-59 win over Minnesota wasn’t just another tally in the win column-it was a reminder of what this team can do when it locks in defensively and catches fire offensively.
The Huskies, now sitting at 13-13 overall and 5-10 in conference play, were missing starting guard Bryson Tucker due to a wrist injury. But even without him, they came out firing.
Washington shot a blistering 67% from the field in the first half-its second-best first-half shooting performance in over a decade-and didn’t cool off much after the break, finishing the game at 63%. That’s the best single-game shooting percentage for UW since 2017, when they torched USC at 67%.
Much of that efficiency came from inside the arc, where the Huskies were nearly automatic. They went 25-for-33 on two-point attempts-good for a scorching 75.7%-as they repeatedly carved up Minnesota’s zone with smart passing, sharp cuts, and strong finishes at the rim.
Hannes Steinbach led the charge with a game-high 26 points, putting together one of his most complete performances of the season. He was relentless attacking the basket and finished with authority, including a pair of dunks that punctuated key stretches of the game. Zoom Diallo added 17 points and was instrumental in breaking down the Gophers’ defense, especially in the second half.
Minnesota, playing short-handed without Jaylen Crocker-Johnson-their second-leading scorer and top rebounder in conference play-leaned heavily on Cade Tyson, who poured in 22 points. Bobby Durkin added 13, and Isaac Asuma chipped in as well, but the Gophers' rotation was thin. Three of their starters played all 40 minutes, and the fatigue showed, especially during Washington’s big run to close the first half.
That run-14 unanswered points in the final four minutes before halftime-was the turning point. With the game tied at 26, Courtland Muldrew knocked down a tough fadeaway jumper to give UW the lead.
From there, the Huskies’ zone defense took over. They forced four Minnesota turnovers during that stretch and turned each into points, either at the line or at the rim.
It was a textbook example of how defense can feed the offense, and it gave Washington the breathing room it needed.
Up until that burst, the game had been a back-and-forth affair. Neither team led by more than four points in the first 16 minutes. But once the Huskies seized momentum, they didn’t let go.
Minnesota stuck with its zone in the second half, but Washington kept slicing through it. The Huskies did their damage from the high post and off dribble drives, finding soft spots and finishing with confidence.
After a thunderous Steinbach dunk with just over eight minutes left, Washington rattled off seven straight made field goals. The final one?
Another Steinbach dunk, this time with three minutes to play, pushing the lead to 20 and all but sealing the win.
Minnesota closed the game on an 8-0 run, trimming the final margin, but the damage had already been done. Washington’s defense held firm when it mattered, and the offense was simply too efficient to catch.
The Huskies didn’t just shoot the lights out-they won the hustle stats too. They outscored Minnesota 17-10 on points off turnovers, dominated the boards 31-20, and turned defense into offense with a 14-4 edge in fast break points.
Now, Washington gets a full week to regroup and hopefully get healthier before its final eastward swing of the season. The Huskies will head to Maryland on February 21, followed by a stop at Rutgers on the 24th. Then it’s back home to wrap up the regular season with games against Wisconsin and USC, before finishing things off with a trip to Oregon on March 7.
If they can bottle up the energy and execution they showed Saturday-especially that first-half defensive surge and high-efficiency offense-they’ll be a tough out down the stretch.