Tsohonis Leads Huskies Out of the Ashes and Past Colorado

The sophomore guard came off the bench to drop in a career-high 27 points and helped his team snap an eight-game losing streak.

The Huskies offered a heartbeat.

A sense of indignation.

An unlikely temper tantrum.

Marcus Tsohonis at his imaginative best.

Finally they have something in the win column to show for it.

Playing with effort and emotion for a second consecutive game, a gritty University of Washington basketball team rose up from the ashes on Wednesday and beat Colorado 84-80. 

Last-place UW (2-11 overall, 1-7 Pac-12) ended an eight-game losing streak, largely thanks to the determined Tsohonis. 

The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard from Portland, who doesn't always play but delivers whenever he does, came off the bench five minutes into the contest and and tossed in a career-high 27 points. 

Tsohonis scored on a variety of creative shots, including a four-point play. He hit 9 of 13 shots, including 4 of 6 behind the 3-point line. He was sensational.

"Whatever I've got to do," Tsohonis said. "If I just play five minutes and we win the game, that's all that's needed."

On this night, the Huskies weren't going down without registering a loud protest.

Usually mild-mannered UW coach Mike Hopkins drew a first-half technical foul, rare for him. He went berserk after guard Quade Green got roughed up going to the basket and nothing was called.

Mask flying off as he charged and shouted at the officiating crew, Hopkins was restrained by his assistant coaches to avoid picking up a second T and expulsion.

This explosive moment happened with 9:11 left in the half and the Huskies trailing 17-13 and the game beginning to slip away from them.

All of this anger seemed to inspire the home team and prevent what before might have been the inevitable against the Buffaloes (11-4, 5-3), who won an earlier matchup 92-69 between these teams at a neutral site.

"I want to set a better example for our guys," Hopkins said, "but I want them to know I'm out there fighting for them."

The Huskies, wearing gold jerseys for the first time in couple of seasons, were at their best early on when Erik Stevenson and Tsohonis began dropping shots and 7-4 Riley Sorn started misdirecting them.

After the UW fell down by 10, the last time at 34-24, Tsohonis and Stevenson combined to scored the UW's final 12 points of the half. That pulled the UW within 40-36 at intermission.

It was an absolute battle over the next 20 minutes. The teams were never more than six points apart.

With 9:18 left to play, Tsohonis launched a 3-pointer that went in as he got knocked to the floor by the Buffaloes' D'Shawn Schwartz. His free throw completed the unusual four-point play and gave the Huskies a 64-63 lead.

The Huskies lost Stevenson, who finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds, to fouls with 4:23 left and the UW on top 73-71.

Meantime, they couldn't stop Colorado's Jeriah Horne, a 6-7 junior and one-time Tulsa transfer, who finished with a season-high 24 points.

But the Huskies were good when they needed to be, using their zone to force the Buffs into 1-for-18 shooting behind the line. 

Tied at 75, Jamal Bey hit a short jumper to give the home team the lead for good with 2:22 remaining and it was hang on time.

Colorado missed a 3-pointer to tie with five seconds remaining, Bey hit one of two free throws, and the UW misery was over.

"I'm glad we were able to pull this one out," Tsohonis said. "This is going to get us over the hump."

He might be deserving of a little more playing time, too, maybe even another start.

Follow Dan Raley of Husky Maven on Twitter: @DanRaley1 and @HuskyMaven

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