Washington Huskies' Overtime Battle Falls Short Against San Diego State in Thrilling Championship Clash

The Washington basketball team delivered an impressive performance for the ESPN2 TV audience on Sunday night, but fell short in a thrilling overtime contest against San Diego State, losing 100-97 in the Continental Tire Main Event championship in Las Vegas.

Despite trailing by 12 points with just over five minutes remaining, the Huskies (3-2) mounted a 7-0 scoring run to force the game into overtime. In the extra session, UW forward Keion Brooks Jr. scored a team-high 22 points, making all four of his shots, but a turnover in the final seconds hindered their chances. Despite the loss, Brooks expressed pride in the team's determination and resilience.

With all five Husky starters scoring in double figures, including Sahvir Wheeler with 19 points, Moses Wood with 18, Paul Mulcahy with 11, and Franck Kepnang with 10, the team showed promising chemistry despite having several new players.

While leading for almost 11 minutes in the first half, the Huskies couldn't maintain their advantage as San Diego State's Jaedon LeDee's stellar performance, finishing with 32 points and 16 rebounds, proved decisive. UW closed out regulation with a seven-point surge, fueled by Wheeler, who showcased his season-high 19 points.

A late 8-0 run helped the Huskies erase a halftime deficit and briefly regain the lead at 50-49. However, San Diego State's potent offense, highlighted by a 13-4 run, extended their lead to 78-68 with under nine minutes remaining.

Despite the loss, Washington looks ahead to their upcoming game at Alaska Airlines Arena on Nov. 28 against UC San Diego, featuring a matchup against former UW forward J'Raan Brooks.

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