University of Washington
Nevada
Huskies Lose Heartbreaker In OT At Nevada
December 02, 2011 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 2, 2011
RENO, Nev. - This eagerly anticipated road trip isn't off to the start the Huskies wanted.
Terrence Ross scored 18 points, but Washington's 21 turnovers and inability to foul as instructed on the final defensive possession of regulation ultimately led to Nevada beating the Huskies 76-73 in overtime Friday night at the Lawlor Events Center.
"Just far too many turnovers," coach Lorenzo Romar said after being denied the 200th victory of his 10-year career at Washington.
On the final possession of overtime, Darnell Gant had a 3-point shot blocked and Abdul Gaddy's potential tying 3 fell short. That sealed the second road loss in two tries this young season for the Huskies (4-2), who were to head home Saturday morning.
They will practice at home Sunday morning and fly to New York that afternoon for a six-day stay that includes games in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. against 16th-ranked Marquette and on Dec. 10 at 9 a.m. against No. 3 Duke.
"We've been in this position in the past where we've had to learn, and we've caught on," Romar said after his team that has five freshmen committed 11 turnovers in the first 11 minutes. "I'm confident we'll be able to catch on again.
"By the time we get to the Garden, we'll have put this behind us and we'll be ready to go."
Washington trailed for most of a ragged first half before taking a fortunate, two-point lead at the break - fortunate given UW had 13 turnovers in that opening period.
C.J. Wilcox, who scored all of his 14 points in the second half, then got hot from outside to propel the Huskies into a lead that got as high as 10 points.
But Nevada (5-3) stayed in it behind a career night from Deonte Burton. He scored 31 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 4 for 6 from 3-point range.
Burton's final make from deep in regulation came with Washington leading 66-63, following an electrifying follow slam and then a free throw by Ross. During a timeout with 11 seconds remaining in regulation, Romar told his defenders to foul outside to keep the Wolf Pack from getting off a 3-point try.
Freshman Tony Wroten, who finished with 14 points, five assists, four rebounds and five turnovers, reached around the back hip of Burton toward his torso about 25 feet from the basket with about 8 seconds left. Wroten looked at the nearby official for a foul call, but none came in a game that had 41 fouls.
Wroten stood still in disbelief while Burton continued his dribble, pulled up, and made an uncontested 3 with 6 seconds left. That tied it at 66, and when Wilcox missed a long jumper for UW at the buzzer the game went to overtime.
"Under 5 seconds, we were going to foul," Romar said. "We just didn't execute."
Washington led 70-66 with 2 minutes gone in overtime on two free throws and a layup by Ross, finishing Gaddy's neat pass inside. But Burton scored the next six points for Nevada to put the home team up 72-70.
Wroten made one of two free throws to get UW back within 72-71 with 90 seconds to go. After Burton made two foul shots, Ross scored on a layup with 46 seconds remaining to make it 74-73. But the Huskies left Nevada's Kevin Panzer open in the corner for a jumper with 19 seconds left. That became the final points when Gant had his shot rejected and Gaddy was short on Washington's last chances.
The Huskies were far more aggressive at both ends of the floor than they were in their previous road game last month at Saint Louis, when they looked stunned en route to a 25-point hole by halftime.
Even though it remains early, these Dawgs know they must improve - immediately, given what lies ahead in New York.
"We did things to show we made progress from the last time we were on the road," Romar said. `But not enough progress."
"We have to turn the page quickly," continued Romar.
"But not so fast that we don't learn from our mistakes."
