Associated Press
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Noah Dickerson scored a season-high 24 points, and Washington overcame foul trouble and terrible shooting in the first half to rally for a 71-67 win over Texas A&M on Tuesday night.
Trailing by as many as 13 in the first half, Washington (4-1) found its shooting touch in the second half and its zone defense started to cause problems for the Aggies. The Huskies shot 50 percent in the second half and held Texas A&M to just three made baskets over the final 11 ½ minutes. Texas A&M led 55-48 after Christian Mekowulu’s dunk, but the Aggies scored just 11 points the rest of the way.
Dickerson was a menace both scoring and on the glass. He finished with 17 rebounds, 11 at the offensive end. Dickerson made 7 of 19 shots and was 10 of 17 at the free-throw line. But he missed a chance to seal the victory missing a pair of free throws with seven seconds left and the Huskies leading 69-66.
The Huskies fouled Jay Jay Chandler with 3.3 seconds remaining. He made the first free throw, intentionally missed the second but a lane violation by Chandler gave possession to Washington. Matisse Thybulle was fouled and hit both free throws to seal the victory.
Chandler led Texas A&M (1-4) with 21 points and TJ Starks added 17. The Aggies led by as many as 13 in the first half, their guards able to penetrate Washington’s zone defense and either score at the rim or find open shooters. But those lanes closed in the second half and Washington was better offensively.
Washington shot a putrid 23 percent in the first half but were still within five at the break after Dominic Green’s corner 3-pointer at the buzzer. Its big rally started after Mekowulu’s dunk, with Green banking in a 3-pointer to begin a 11-0 run Dickerson’s three-point play gave Washington its first lead at 56-55 and David Crisp followed with a 3-pointer.
But the final minutes became a challenge for the Huskies. Washington was 8 of 15 on free throws over the final 6 ½ minutes. Washington extended its lead to 66-62 after Jaylen Nowell’s free throw and Thybulle made a huge defensive play off a Washington turnover, chasing down Chandler’s layup attempt, blocking the shot off Chandler and out of bounds to the Huskies. The play proved critical in the Huskies holding on.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
