Four players made in double digits Saturday night and Washington stayed alive for a place in the Big Ten Conference tournament by gathering for a victory 76-71 over visiting Northwestern in Seattle.
Tyler Harris scored 18 points for Huskies (12-11, 3-9), who snapped a four-game home to lose. Great Osobor added 16 points and nine returns and struck a scheme with 32.0 seconds left that gave Washington a 73-69 edge. DJ Davis came from the bench to correct 15 points and Zoom Diallo contributed 10.
Nick Martinelli scored 19 of his playing high 23 points in the second half and collected 10 returns for Wildcats (13-11, 4-9), which has lost four of its last five. For Berry added 14 points and Justin Mullins chipped 13 but visitors could not overcome the loss of coach Chris Collins. He was thrown out after two techniques late in the first half.
Assistant coach Chris Lowery took over and monitored a comeback from a 14-point deficit in the second half. Northwestern led 66-62 on Martinelli’s short jumper with 3:42, but Washington made the next nine points and took the lead for good on a three-point game by Osobor on the 1: 55 mark.
The Huskies overcame 16 sales by preserving 52.8 percent of their field target attempts and exceeding Wildcats 34-22.
Both teams came desperately and needed a win. The Northwestern grew on the cut line for next month’s conference tournament, which leaves the three lower teams in 18-law, and Washington entered the night in last place.
Collins blew his stack at the 3:8th mark in the first half and protested against one without call. Leading judge Jeffrey Anderson assessed a technical foul when Huskies set up a play, then Collins gave a second technical and kicked him out.
Davis made all four free throws after the technical to give Washington a lead of 32-22 and then sent the hosts to a break with a 39-30 advantage after a 3-point with a second left to end a 10-point half.
-Field level media
