Huskies Get Biten By Beavers in Pac-12 Tourny

LOS ANGELES - The Washington Huskies came into the Pac-12 Tournament as the champions thanks to a loss by California. It was understood they still had something to prove not only to the conference, but to the NCAA Tournament committee as well. The Huskies would face a hungry, on fire Oregon State Beavers team who refused to just roll over, lay down, and be intimidated.

Coach Craig Robinson would now have a reason for his brother-in-law President Barack Obama, to legitimately place his team in a NCAA tournament bracket this year.

The first half started off slow and somewhat sloppy by both team, it seem to take awhile before the Huskies and Beaver got into rhythm and really play at a high level. The Beavers began to pull away as the lead going into halftime 48-33. A stunned and shocked Washington had their work cut out for them in the second half if they wanted to advance and have an opportunity to win the Pac-12 Tournament.

Second half the Huskies turned a 15 pointed deficit into a 8 point lead over the Beavers, thanks to a 22-3 run that was sparked by the excellent and precise play of Washington's Tony Wroten who had an amazing 29 points, along with C.J. Wilcox who dropped 16 points, and Terrance Ross scored 15 points.

However Beavers' Jared Cunningham would not be denied scoring 18 points despite blowing free throws down the stretch, yet was able to convert two key free throws when it was needed. The Huskies had an opportunity to come back, but could not covert crucial free throws within the last 2 1/2 minutes of the game.

With about 31 seconds to go, Cunningham saw an opportunity to score and took advantage of it. Again the Huskies had an opportunity to win, but free throws became their achilles heel, which cost them the game and the opportunity to play for the championship.
Huskies fall in a close contest 86-84 to the Beavers.

One of the most exciting games of the Tournament, Hollywood couldn't have written a better script.

After the game Beavers Coach Robinson talked about the fight of the team, "I know that I could not be more proud of a team, and have not been prouder of a team, than I am of this team. We have fought hard and lost our share of games by five points and under, and it's not due to these guys' lack of hard work."

"The stretch at the ending was definitely nail-biting" said Jared Cunningham who described the atmosphere of the game.

Washington coach Lorenzo Romar was asked about missing the free throws near the end of the game "We were trying to make the first, obviously, and miss the second one. Our guy knew what to do. And in Terrence's zeal to get it, he shot a little too hard there."

*The Huskies shot a terrible 9-21 from the field.

Oregon State would move on to face Arizona on Friday night, Washington will have to sit and wait for selection Sunday to see where they will be seeded to play in the NCAA Tournament.

*In attendance to watch Oregon State, former NBA stars Gary Peyton "The Glove" & the Ironman, multi champion and former Laker A.C. Green.