Magnificent Menifield Keys 72-71 OT Win Over Oregon

It appeared like a very poor omen that the Huskies, coming into on a 4-game dropping streak, had the beginning of this recreation delayed 30+ minutes because of a defective basket that wanted to be fully changed. It led to a late evening however turned out to not be an indication of issues to return as Washington rallied within the 2nd half and overcome Oregon 72-71 in additional time. Keyon Menifield had a profession excessive 27 factors to go together with 6 assists and 5 rebounds as Washington improved to 14-13 (6-10) on the season.

After lacking their first 11 pictures on Saturday in Pullman the Huskies received off to a barely higher begin tonight. Keyon Menifield hit a troublesome midrange jumper over the outstretched arms of N’Faly Dante to place the Huskies up 2-0 immediately. Oregon answered with a 3-pointer from 7-footer Nate Bittle however neither offense received right into a rhythm after their fast begins.

The Geese managed to get fouled and get second probability alternatives however struggled to transform. That allowed Washington to open up a 10-7 lead as Oregon went scoreless over 4 minutes. Braxton Meah left the sport to get some relaxation for the primary time although and the Geese instantly went on an 8-0 run with Jackson Grant within the recreation as a substitute to reclaim the lead.

Koren Johnson ended the run getting a steal and exhibiting some nifty handles adopted by a niftier move in transition to seek out Keion Brooks Jr. for a thunderous dunk. On the following possession he saved it going hitting an open 3-pointer following a press break and tied it again up at 15.

Oregon made essentially the most of their twin towers lineups as each beginning bigs had rim rocking dunks as a part of a 6-0 run to return up 21-17 on the Dawgs. From there Braxton Meah drew the 2nd foul on each Nate Bittle and Quincy Guerrier securing rebounds with a dunk in between. Then shortly after he stole the ball in transition and adopted it up with a lob dunk going the opposite option to tie it again up at 21.

Neither staff was in a position to prolong a lead for some time as they traded baskets with UW up 28-27. The Huskies lastly broke via with consecutive scores as Braxton Meah for a minimum of the fifth time this 12 months took benefit of an opponent’s lane violation and made a pair of free throws with 44 seconds left within the half. The Geese although received a runner to fall earlier than Keion Brooks Jr. missed a protracted 2 simply earlier than the break so UW went into half up 30-29. Braxton Meah led the way in which with 12 factors on 4 shot makes an attempt.

The Geese’ capturing received on monitor out of halftime as Jermiane Cousinard made his first two 3-point makes an attempt. Cole Bajema scored his first factors of the evening on a 3-pointer in between however then issues fell aside. Braxton Meah was referred to as for 3 fouls within the span of two minutes to provide him 4 whole and stick him on the bench. The foul shot following the ultimate one gave Oregon their largest lead of the evening at 41-35. Jackson Grant got here in and received to the free throw line however promptly missed each makes an attempt.

Quincy Guerrier took over the new hand from Cousinard for Oregon and made back-to-back 3’s to assist push the Duck lead out to eight. Keyon Menifield although wasn’t keen to surrender and pushed the ball in transition a couple of occasions for 4 factors to make it 50-46. Following an Oregon basket Jamal Bey scored his first factors on a nook 3 after which Keyon Menifield went 1v3 in transition ending with an up and beneath layup. The basket lower the rating to 52-51 with 8:31 left and compelled a Dana Altman timeout to chop down the group noise.

Keion Brooks Jr. received to the road with an opportunity to provide the Huskies the lead however as a substitute missed each. After a Nate Bittle tip-in Brooks once more an open jumper within the level which made Coach Hopkins notice he needed to convey Braxton Meah within the recreation. Earlier than a stoppage although Bittle received yet one more putback and so Washington trailed by 5 with Meah re-entering and 6:30 remaining.

The freshmen had an opportunity to convey the Huskies again over the following jiffy. Each Keyon Menifield and Koren Johnson (twice) received extensive open 3-point makes an attempt that would’ve lower the margin to inside 2 factors however each missed. In the meantime, Noah Williams exited the sport developing a little bit gimpy and headed again to the locker room.

Keion Brooks got here up large although blocking a midrange shot resulting in a runout the place Brooks transformed a layup via contact and made the free throw for the quaint 3-point play. Washington pressured and compelled a throwaway however neither ref wanting proper at it noticed that and so they referred to as it a soar ball though the arrow was pointing in direction of Washington. Keyon Menifield got here up a lot greater than his body as he rebounded a Koren Johnson airballed then received it again within the nook and made a 3-pointer over 7-foot Nate Bittle to place the Huskies in entrance 61-60.

Will Richardson threw up a prayer to keep away from a shot clock violation and Nate Bittle secured the soar ball rebound and put it again in to provide Oregon the lead again. Menifield simply went again to work although hitting yet one more 3-pointer to place UW up 64-62 with 40 seconds left. On protection, Braxton Meah bit on a pump faux by Will Richardson and he bounced it to N’Faly Dante who had an uncontested game-tying dunk with 13 seconds left.

Keyon Menifield rightly requested for the ball and received off a possible game-winning 3 however it got here up brief. Keion Brooks grabbed the rebound and barely had time to launch an off stability buzzer beating prayer however it was nicely brief and so the sport headed to additional time tied at 64.

Menifield received proper again on the horse hitting a midrange jumper to start out off the additional interval. Oregon answered with a 3 and stole a lazy Jamal Bey move. Thankfully they selected to dribble it again out quite than go for a 1v1 layup and it UW was in a position to recuperate and get a steal after a lucky no-call when Braxton Meah seemingly pushed Will Richardson within the again. The Huskies received the ball up the courtroom and Koren Johnson received the extensive open layup to place UW again on prime 68-67.

On consecutive possessions Braxton Meah blocked or altered a shot to shut out a possession however Keion Brooks wasn’t prepared for the ball and let a move go off his fingers out of bounds with nobody round him. It bit Washington within the butt as N’Faly Dante received an offensive rebound and powered via Braxton Meah for a basket to place Oregon in entrance once more with simply over 90 seconds remaining.

Oregon selected to take the ball out of Menifield’s fingers and he mentioned okay. He threw up a lob over double protection and Brooks completed the slam to place the Huskies in entrance. After all although Oregon simply threw our bodies on the offensive glass on their possession and Dante managed one other putback. Jamal Bey was the unlikely savior driving the ball with out passing and making the layup to place UW up 72-71. Will Richardson tried to reply with a layup of his personal however it hit the underside of the rim.

Menifield ended up together with his profession excessive 27 factors on a ridiculous 11/15 capturing. Braxton Meah didn’t try a shot or a free throw after halftime however ended up with 8 rebounds and 4 blocks to go together with his 12 early factors. Keion Brooks once more struggled from the ground however had a couple of simple dunk alternatives to nonetheless get to 14 factors. Koren Johnson was the one different Husky with greater than 5 factors, ending with 9 factors (3/10 capturing) plus 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a few nice protection.

Oregon completed with 18 offensive rebounds and took 11 extra pictures than Washington however the Huskies someway received the turnover battle and made 4 extra free throws. UW additionally completed with extra assists than Oregon which must be the primary time this season in opposition to an actual opponent that UW has had each extra assists and fewer turnovers than the opposite staff.

A win over Oregon is all the time good however it’s significantly candy on condition that Oregon completely wanted this win to maintain their hopes of an at-large bid to the NCAA match alive. Now they’ll at a minimal must win out and make the Pac-12 match finals to even be within the operating. Washington would after all choose to be in competition quite than taking part in spoiler however issues are what they’re. The gamers haven’t given up hope although and the potential improvement of Menifield and Meah subsequent season supplies a glimmer of pleasure among the many backdrop of the present state of UW hoops.

Washington continues their temporary homestand taking part in the eleventh place Beavers on Saturday evening seeking to avenge a loss in Corvallis when Braxton Meah was out and Kepnang tore his ACL partway via the sport.