The Washington Huskies secured a 69-57 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, led by Hannes Steinbach's impressive 26 points and 9 rebounds. Steinbach's performance helped Washington outscore Minnesota by 13 points in the first half, taking a 39-26 lead into the break. The Huskies' 39 first-half points were fueled by 53.8% shooting from the field, including 5 three-pointers. Minnesota, on the other hand, struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 34.6% from the field in the first 20 minutes.
Hannes Steinbach's 26 Points Mark His 5th 20-Point Game of the Season
The game unfolded with Washington taking control from the outset, using a 12-2 run to build a 23-10 lead with 12:15 remaining in the first half. Minnesota's Cade Tyson tried to keep his team in the game, scoring 11 points in the first half, but the Golden Gophers couldn't overcome Washington's hot shooting. In the second half, Minnesota outscored Washington 31-30, but it wasn't enough to overcome the 13-point halftime deficit. The Huskies' defense held Minnesota to 38.5% shooting from the field for the game, including just 2-10 from three-point range. Washington's 69 points were the result of 45.5% shooting from the field, including 7 three-pointers.
Hannes Steinbach and Cade Tyson were the top performers in the game, with Steinbach leading all scorers with 26 points and Tyson finishing with 22 points and 9 rebounds. For Washington, Zoom Diallo added 17 points, while Courtland Muldrew chipped in with 6 points and 5 rebounds. Minnesota's Bobby Durkin scored 13 points, and Isaac Asuma added 11 points. Steinbach's 26 points came on 10-17 shooting from the field, including 2-4 from three-point range. Tyson's 22 points were the result of 8-15 shooting from the field, including 2-5 from three-point range.
CHD Scout Report Card
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Final
The key statistics from the game reveal Washington's dominance. The Huskies outrebounded Minnesota 34-29, including 10-7 on the offensive glass. Washington also committed just 10 turnovers, compared to 14 for Minnesota. The Huskies' 7 three-pointers were a key factor in the game, as they outscored Minnesota 21-6 from beyond the arc. Minnesota's 38.5% shooting from the field was its lowest mark in the last 5 games, and the Golden Gophers' 2-10 shooting from three-point range was their worst performance of the season.
The CHD Scout model predicted a Washington win by 5.4 points, and the Huskies delivered a 12-point victory. The model was correct in predicting the winner, but it underestimated the margin of victory. Washington's dominant first-half performance was a key factor in the game, and the model correctly identified the Huskies as the better team. The predicted score of 75-70 was close, but the actual score of 69-57 reflected Washington's strong defensive performance.
The win improves Washington's record to 13-13, and the Huskies' NET ranking of 54 will likely remain steady. The loss drops Minnesota to 11-14, and the Golden Gophers' NET ranking of 81 will likely fall. This game was a Quadrant 3 win for Washington, and a Quadrant 1 loss for Minnesota. The Huskies' resume now includes 3 Quadrant 3 wins and 5 Quadrant 1 losses, while Minnesota's resume includes 2 Quadrant 1 wins and 7 Quadrant 1 losses. Washington's tournament hopes are still alive, but the Huskies need to win several more games to feel secure.
Washington's next game is on February 18 against the UCLA Bruins, while Minnesota's next game is on February 19 against the Michigan State Spartans. Both games matters for the teams' tournament hopes, and a win would be a significant boost to their resumes. Washington want to build on its momentum from this win, while Minnesota will try to bounce back from a disappointing loss.