Penn State Tops Washington in Gritty Finish, Huskies Fall to Bottom of Big Ten Standings
Wednesday night at Alaska Airlines Arena wasn’t just another game for Washington - it was a gut-check moment. Coming in tied with Oregon for the worst record in Big Ten play, the Huskies had a chance to reset the tone of their season. Instead, they dropped a close one to Penn State, 63-60, and now find themselves alone at the bottom of the conference standings.
It was a game that felt like it could’ve gone either way. Washington battled, but the execution just wasn’t there when it mattered most. Whether it was missed opportunities, defensive lapses, or simply not capitalizing on key possessions, the Huskies came up short - and they know it.
After the game, senior guard Quimari Peterson was the lone player made available to the media. That in itself spoke volumes.
Peterson, who finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds in 24 minutes, didn’t sugarcoat the situation. His message was clear and defiant: *“This isn’t over with.”
That same fire carried over to head coach Danny Sprinkle, who echoed Peterson’s sentiment in his postgame remarks. The loss stung, no doubt. But the tone from both player and coach wasn’t one of resignation - it was about resilience.
Peterson opened up about the mood in the locker room, acknowledging the frustration but also the belief that this team still has fight left in it. He pointed to areas that hurt them in the loss - things like communication on defense and missed rotations - but also gave credit to Penn State for executing down the stretch.
He also took a moment to highlight the play of freshman guard Zoom Diallo, who continues to show flashes of why the coaching staff is so high on him. Peterson praised Diallo’s energy and poise, noting that the young guard is growing with every game.
There’s no hiding from the standings now. Washington is in a tough spot, but the message coming out of the locker room is simple: they’re not done yet. And with plenty of Big Ten basketball still to be played, the Huskies will have opportunities to claw their way back - if they can turn these close losses into lessons.