Huskies Come Up Just Short Again vs. Bruins in Gritty Road Battle
For the second time this season, Washington found itself in a tight, high-stakes battle with UCLA. And for the second time, the Huskies walked away with a bitter taste - another close loss, this one a 77-73 defeat at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday night.
The Huskies, now sitting at 12-12 overall and 4-9 in Big Ten play, showed plenty of fight. But just like their earlier two-point loss to the Bruins back in December, they couldn’t quite finish the job.
Washington came out with energy and confidence, jumping ahead 20-12 midway through the first half. Sophomore guard Wesley Yates III was locked in early, scoring 12 of those opening 20 points.
Yates continued to lead the charge throughout the night, finishing with a team-high 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting. He also chipped in a rebound, a block, and a steal in an all-around performance.
This time, unlike the first matchup, the Huskies managed to weather UCLA’s first big push. They held a 34-30 lead at halftime, showing more composure and poise in the face of a Bruins run. Early in the second half, Washington kept that momentum going and led 45-40 with just under 16 minutes to play.
But that’s when UCLA flipped the script.
The Bruins responded with a 9-0 run that turned the game on its head, grabbing a 49-45 lead with 12:37 remaining. From that point on, Washington never led again.
Still, they didn’t fold. The Huskies kept grinding, clawing their way back within striking distance multiple times.
Yates hit a key layup with 5:50 left to cut the gap to 60-58, and Washington stayed within one or two possessions down the stretch. But they couldn’t get over the hump. Missed opportunities - including three misses in their final five shot attempts - proved costly.
UCLA, to its credit, closed the game like a veteran squad. The Bruins hit six clutch free throws in the final 36 seconds to ice it, keeping the Huskies just out of reach.
Despite the loss, there were some bright spots for Washington. Freshman forward Hannes Steinbach turned in a strong two-way effort with 13 points, seven boards, and three steals.
Senior guard Quimari Peterson added 12 points and led the team with seven assists, while also picking up two steals. Sophomore center Lathan Sommerville contributed 10 points and a rebound.
Sophomore guard Zoom Diallo quietly had a solid night as well, matching Peterson’s seven assists and adding seven points and three rebounds.
The Huskies will look to regroup quickly as they return home to face Penn State on Feb. 11 at Alaska Airlines Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. PT.
After two heartbreakers against UCLA, Washington’s challenge now is to turn close calls into wins - and it starts with finishing strong when it counts most.