SEATTLE — Through all the whistles and an avalanche of fouls, Andrew Andrews and Washington remained resilient and earned a memorable start to conference play.
Andrews matched his career-high with 35 points, including five straight points midway through the second overtime, and Washington held on to beat No. 25 UCLA 96-93 in double overtime Friday night in a game that featured 64 fouls, 90 free throws and more drama than anyone expected.
“We just don’t stop,” Andrews said. “There are going to be a lot of ups and downs with this team but we’re starting to get to the point where we’re going to be solid.”
Washington (9-4, 1-0) won the Pac-12 Conference opener for both schools on a night when the sounds of the whistles dominated.
UCLA’s Bryce Alford did his part in extending the game an extra 10 minutes with two huge shots at the end of regulation and the end of the first overtime.
Alford’s 3-pointer with 7 seconds left in regulation tied the game at 71, and he hit another with 13 seconds left in the first overtime to pull the Bruins (9-5, 0-1) even at 83. Alford finished with 30 points despite missing his first 11 shots to start the game.
“It was one of the worst nights of my career going into the last couple of minutes of the game,” Alford said. “You’ve got to have confidence you can help your team, and when my team needs me I think that’s when I’m best. It was unfortunate the way it started, but you’ve got to have confidence you’re going to help your team.”
Washington had five players in double figures, including 15 points from reserve Malik Dime, who scored eight straight for Washington midway through the second half when the Huskies were trying to hold their lead. Matisse Thybulle and David Crisp both had 13 points, and both hit key 3-pointers in each overtime. Thybulle’s 3-pointer with 1:30 left in the first overtime gave Washington an 81-80 lead and Crisp’s 3-pointer with 38.8 seconds left in the second overtime gave the Huskies a 93-89 lead.
Thomas Welsh scored 19 points for UCLA but was on the bench with foul trouble for much of the game. Isaac Hamilton added 15 points and Tony Parker had 11.
Andrews scored 27 of his 35 points during the second half and the two overtimes. He finally gave Washington a little space in the second OT with a 3-pointer from the wing and a steal and dunk for a 90-85 lead with 2:05 remaining. Two free throws from Alford and a putback by Welsh pulled the Bruins within 90-89, but Crisp’s third 3-pointer pushed the lead to four.
Parker scored quickly for UCLA, but the Bruins had to foul. Dejounte Murray missed both free throws with 16 seconds left but Hamilton’s driving attempt to pull even bounced off the rim. Thybulle grabbed the rebound and was fouled, then hit one of two with 5.9 seconds remaining.
Washington learned its lesson, fouling Alford with 1.8 seconds left. He hit both free throws— the second an accident when he was trying to purposely miss — and Andrews added two more free throws for the final margin.
“This was by far the most intense game I’ve played in,” Thybulle said.
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