Washington survives opening scare from UC Davis

Field Level Media|published: 11/06/2024, 12:47am EST

Oct 3, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Washington head coach Danny Sprinkle takes a question at the podium during the 2024 Big Ten Menís Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Melissa Tamez-Imagn Images

Great Osobor scored 15 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds as Washington overcame a five-point second-half deficit to defeat UC Davis 79-73 on Tuesday in the season opener for both teams in Seattle.

Osobor, a preseason all-Big Ten Conference selection, led a balanced attack. The Huskies won the debut for new coach Danny Sprinkle, whom Osobor played for at both Montana State and Utah State before following him to the Washington.

Mekhi Mason added 13 points for Washington and Zoom Diallo had 12 points and a game-high four assists. Centers Wilhelm Breidenbach and Franck Kepnang added 10 points apiece.

Senior TY Johnson led UC Davis with a career-high 35 points. Isaiah Chappell and Leo DeBruhl scored 10 each and Niko Rocak had nine points and 11 rebounds.

The Aggies took their first lead of the game, 41-39, on a 3-pointer by DeBruhl with 17:52 remaining.

UC Davis extended its advantage to 58-53 on a 3-pointer by Chappell from the left corner with 7:15 to go.

The Huskies responded with a 9-0 run, sparked by Mason's 3-pointer, to regain the lead. Osobor's layup tied the game, and Tyler Harris' jumper in the lane put Washington up 60-58.

Harris scored all nine of his points in the second half to help the Huskies pull away.

The Huskies won despite shooting just 2-for-14 from 3-point range and 21-for-38 at the free-throw line, though they had a 20-2 edge in fastbreak points.

With the score tied at 2-2, Mason made a 3-pointer to spark a 10-0 Washington run. Kepnang, who has missed significant time the past two seasons with injuries, scored six points during the streak on two dunks, one an alley-oop on a pass from Osobor, and a turnaround jumper after an offensive rebound.

The Aggies tied the score at 33-all on two free throws by Johnson with 1:04 left in the half. Breidenbach made a layup off a pass from Diallo with 47 seconds to go to restore Washington's lead. Christian King made a jumper with five seconds remaining to put the Huskies up 37-33 at the half.

--Field Level Media