Huskies Use Youthful Boost to End Doldrums, Utah Tech Upset Bid

Freshman guard Keyon Menifield leads Huskies in scoring for second consecutive game.

Turnovers, bad defense and missed shots were getting old for a shorthanded University of Washington basketball team, leaving an unusually angry Mike Hopkins really with just one option.

The Husky coach went young.

Hopkins teamed true freshmen Keyon Menifield, Koren Johnson and Tyler Linhardt together all at once and this sudden youth movement helped pull the UW from a nine-point deficit to a 78-67 victory over Utah Tech on Monday night in a near empty Alaska Airlines Arena. 

"Being freshmen, we have to step up," Menifield said. "We started off slow. No intensity. Most of us started with no intensity. We started down, so we had to bring it up, being freshmen mostly."

Menifield was sensational once more and tied for game honors with 26 points, five more than his previous best — and he's played in just three outings, twice topping the UW in scoring. On this night, he connected on 9 of 14 shots, 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and chipped in 3 assists.

For the second consecutive game, Hopkins was missing arguably his two best upperclassmen to injury in Kentucky transfer Keion Brooks and Washington State import Noah Williams, leaving him to patch together another lineup.

This remaining group struggled against a Trailblazers team formerly known as Dixie State that usually would have no business hanging tough with a Pac-12 team.

Yet as much of a struggle as it was at times, the Huskies ultimately prevailed against the WAC entry and put together their first 3-0 start since 2015. 

At their worst, there was no chemistry, no rhythm for Hopkins' makeshift starting crew of PJ Fuller, Jamal Bey, Cole Bajema, Braxton Meah and Menifield. 

Freshman sensation Keyon Menifield led the Huskies with 26 points against Utah Tech / Skylar Lin Visuals

The Huskies repeatedly got beat inside by Utah Tech's 6-foot-10, 280-pound Tanner Christensen, formerly of Spokane's University High School and a University of Idaho transfer. The active big man with good footwork had 16 points by halftime. He put both Husky big men, Franck Kepnang (2) and Meah (3), in foul trouble by the break. Christensen finished with 26 points to tie Menifield as the leading scorer. 

Hopkins, wearing a blue tie and a red face, saw one too many lapses with 6:29 left to play in the opening half and his team trailing 25-17. He quickly ushered his three newest recruits onto the floor without another thought.

While the Huskies twice fell behind by nine before reversing things, the three youngsters helped infuse new life into this group and this slowly pulled these guys within 36-34 at intermission. The freshmen were on the court together for about four minutes. That was just enough to make a difference.

"Obviously, it's tough losing Noah and Keion for however long, but that just means newer guys can step up," Bajema said.

Menifield had 14 of his points heading into the locker room, Johnson chipped in 5 points and the 6-foot-7 Linhardt was content to make his collegiate debut and launch a shot.

Freshman guard Koren Johnson drew a lot of minutes against Utah Tech / Skylar Lin Visuals

There was still plenty of work to be done by everyone in a UW jersey, old or young.

After the break, the Huskies fell down by 53-47 before pulling it together once and for all. Menifield continued to score and was able lob a few passes at the rim for the 7-foot-1 Meah to dunk with authority.

The UW finally grabbed the lead for good at 59-58 with 8:54 left when Bey hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Freshman forward Tyler Linhardt made his collegiate debut against Utah Tech / Skylar Lin Visuals

A minute and 10 seconds later, the arena had a horn malfunction that created a 25-minute delay with the Huskies nursing a 61-58 advantage. The Huskies often paired their big men, Meah and Kepnang, together at times.

Menifield, with a pair of 3-pointers and a pair of free throws thereafter, helped take this reconfigured Washington team to the finish line.

"Actually, I just do whatever I do to make my team win," Menifield said. "If I've got to score or play defense, I just do what I've got to do."

Supporting the young guard's production, Bajema finished with 16 points and Fuller had 10.

The UW returns to action on Thursday night for a home encounter against another lower-level school in California Baptist. Williams appears to be out for an extended time, Brooks less so. 

Freshmen, stay ready.

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