Runnin' Utes Drop 57-53 Decision to Washington - The Official Athletic Site of the University of Utah

Runnin' Utes Drop 57-53 Decision to Washington
Watkins pours in game-high 18 points.

Senior guard Josh Watkins had 18 points, 12 in the second half, Saturday against Washington.

Jan. 7, 2012

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY - Senior guard Josh Watkins posted a game-high 18 points, including 12 in the second half, but the University of Utah men's basketball team (4-11, 1-2 Pac-12) lost 57-53 to Washington (9-6, 3-1 Pac-12) Saturday at the Jon M. Huntsman Center.

The Utes played tough defense throughout the game holding the Huskies to their fewest points in a game this season. The Utes were also effective on the glass as they posted their season-high of 39 rebounds and tied their season high with 15 offensive boards.

In addition to Watkins' 18 points, he also grabbed three rebounds and had three steals. This was Watkins' 12th double-figure game this season and he has now had 10 or more points in 36 of his 45 career games.

Junior wing Cedric Martin supported with 11 points for his sixth double-digit-point effort of the season. Martin connected on three of his four 3-point field goal attempts.

Junior center Jason Washburn contributed six points and grabbed seven rebounds, good for second on the team. He now has 103 boards through 15 games this season and earned his second straight 100-rebound campaign, which is six games ahead of his pace last season.

Redshirt sophomore forwared Javon Dawson corralled a career-high six rebounds and also added five points. Senior guard Chris Hines also had five points and tied his career-high mark with five boards.

Dijon Farr grabbed a career-high eight rebounds to lead the Utes on the boards, while also tallying four points.

There were three ties in the early-going, the last coming at 6-6, before Utah took four of the next five points to seize a 10-7 lead to start the game. The Dawgs countered with a 6-1 stretch to assume a 13-11 edge as the Utes came back to tie the game two more times. UW used a 5-2 spurt to claim a 24-21 advantage before a Martin 3-pointer tied the contest for the seventh time at 24 points apiece. Unfortunately, the Huskies responded with four straight and grabbed a 28-24 lead and took a 29-27 into the halftime break. The Utes outshot the Huskies, 37.5% to 32.3%. The Huskies missed 12 of their first 14 shots to start the game as Watkins led the way with six points apiece. Hines and Martin both turned in five points apiece in first 20 minutes and Utah held a slight 21-20 edge in team rebounds.

UW scored the first four points of the second half and eventually used an 8-2 spurt to take its largest lead of the game to that point, 41-31. The Utes cut that deficit to a single point (43-42) by taking 11 of the next 13 points. The Dawgs managed to push their lead back to seven (50-43) with a 7-1 run. A Martin 3-pointer and a Watkins free throws brought Utah within three (50-47), but the Utes put together a late 8-0 charge to pull within two (55-53). Unfortunately, two clutch free throws by Terrence Ross clinched Washington's 57-53 victory.

Washington was led by 14 points from Ross, while Desmond Simmons grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds.

The Utes head to Palo Alto, Calif., next Thursday to take on Stanford. Tipoff from Maples Pavilion is set for 8 p.m. MT.