The University of Washington Huskies experienced a frustrating defeat on Wednesday night, losing to the last-place Penn State Nittany Lions by a score of 63-60. The game, held at the Alaska Airlines Arena, lacked the energy and efficiency fans expected, with attendance roughly two-thirds full.
Despite efforts from Coach Danny Sprinkle and his players, the Huskies could not hold back the Nittany Lions, who seized the lead for good at 61-59 with just over a minute left in the game. The critical moment came when Franck Kepnang was called for goaltending on a shot by freshman Kayden Wingo. Though Penn State attempted to give the game back with a late travel violation, the Huskies were unable to capitalize.
Throughout the game, Zoom Diallo missed several close-range shots, while Hannes Steinbach managed only one of two free throws. Quimari Peterson and Wesley Yates III both failed to convert on three-point attempts, as the Nittany Lions added a pair of free throws to seal the win.
Steinbach had a solid performance with 19 points and 14 rebounds, marking his 16th double-double of the season. However, he received little support from his teammates. On the other hand, Penn State”s Freddie Dilione V led his team with 16 points, contributing to the Huskies” struggles.
The game was riddled with mistakes, as both teams committed numerous turnovers and made poor shot selections. Penn State went into halftime with a slight edge at 35-32. The Nittany Lions” Dominick Stewart even launched an airball in the second half that missed the rim by a significant distance, illustrating the game”s overall sloppiness.
Despite falling behind early, the Huskies were able to rally, with Yates III scoring the team”s first six points. They built early leads of 13-8 and 15-10, but Penn State responded with a 10-0 run, taking a 20-15 advantage.
As the game progressed, the tension heightened, with the Huskies making a final push after trailing 47-41. Steinbach scored seven of the team”s next nine points, giving them a temporary lead at 51-49. The Huskies managed to go ahead one last time at 59-57 with a dunk from Kepnang, but the back-and-forth battle ended with the disappointing loss.
With only six regular-season games remaining, the Huskies will look to rebound this Saturday against Minnesota, who holds a record of 11-13 and 4-9 in the Big Ten. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m. tipoff.
