Huskies roll over, play dead at OSU

CORVALLIS, Ore. – They left here a year ago with a win that turned everything around.

They can only hope their return visit Sunday doesn’t carry the same overtones.

Just like in 2004, the Huskies fell behind a hot-shooting Oregon State team by 16 points midway through the second half.

But unlike last year, when the Huskies rallied for a win that spurred them on to previously unimaginable heights, the comeback never came, and Oregon State handed Washington its worst loss of the season, 90-73, at Gill Coliseum in front of 9,696, many of whom rushed the floor afterward.

There was plenty of blame to go around. The Huskies made just 28 of 68 shots (41.2 percent), missing 16 of 17 in one stretch to end the first half and begin the second. They let Oregon State make 33 of 55 shots (60 percent), the best by a Huskies opponent this season. Their inside players accounted for just 19 points, while allowing 47. And the Huskies lost 21 turnovers, matching their second-highest total this season.

But Washington coach Lorenzo Romar pointed in just one direction – himself.

“Put this one on me,” he told reporters. “You don’t need to ask further questions.”

But that only begged the question of what Romar thought he did wrong.

“They played extremely well, but we should have given them a better fight,” Romar said. ” I’ve got to have our guys ready better than that. I know (losing) happens to everybody, and this is the first time this has happened where we have gotten blown out like that, but we should have had more fight than we had today.”

Indeed, the Huskies hadn’t trailed in any game by more than the 14 points they were down in the second half at Gonzaga, and it was probably unrealistic to think Washington was never going to stumble, particularly on the road.

But it was a costly loss as Washington (20-4 overall, 10-3 Pac-10) is now a game behind Arizona in the conference standings.

It also seemed to illustrate some troubling trends that Washington has kept hidden recently by continuing to win.

Washington has now shot 43 percent or worse in five of its last seven games, a period in which it has become ever more dependent on the 3-point shot. It was just 4 of 27 (14.8 percent) on 3-pointers against Oregon State – its worst performance of the year. Washington has shot 22 or more 3s in five of its last six games after attempting that many only twice previously.

The Huskies also seem to be letting some tight officiating get to them. Washington players say officials aren’t letting them get away with as much physical play as earlier in the season and in both games on this Oregon trip that seemed to throw the Huskies off their game.

Still, Washington had a 27-20 lead with 8:56 left in the first half, powered by Brandon Roy’s 13 first-half points. But then Roy left the game for a few minutes and the Beavers got hot. Oregon State guard J.S. Nash came off the bench to score 18 points in the first half and lead a Beavers’ rally that gave them a 44-37 advantage at halftime.

Oregon State (14-9, 6-6) then scored the first eight points of the second half, and the game was never really in doubt.

It was a stunning turnaround from a month ago when Washington beat Oregon State 108-68 in Seattle, a contest during which Beavers coach Jay John was taken to the hospital at halftime after suffering an attack of hypertension.

“We were just negligent,” said Roy, who finished with a team-high 25 points. “We beat them so bad at home, I think a couple of guys came out and thought we would cruise to another victory.”

OSU 90, (11) Washington 73

Washington (20-4, 10-3)–Jones 2-7 4-7 9, Jensen 2-7 0-0 4, Simmons 6-14 2-2 15, Robinson 4-11 0-0 8, Conroy 2-6 2-2 6, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Roy 9-13 5-5 25, Rollins 1-3 0-0 2, Williams 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 28-68 13-16 73.

Oregon State (14-9, 6-6)–DeWitz 7-12 4-4 20, Cuic 1-5 0-0 2, Lucas 9-12 5-5 23, Hurd 3-4 2-7 8, Stephens 7-11 0-1 17, Fontenet 0-1 0-0 0, Nash 5-7 6-7 18, Hooks 0-0 0-0 0, Jeffers 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 33-55 17-24 90.

Halftime–Oregon State 44, Washington 37. 3-point goals–Washington 4-27 (Roy 2-4, Jones 1-4, Simmons 1-7, Jensen 0-2, Smith 0-2, Robinson 0-4, Conroy 0-4), Oregon State 7-12 (Stephens 3-4, DeWitz 2-3, Nash 2-3, Cuic 0-1, Fontanel 0-1). Fouled out–None. Rebounds–Washington 38 (Jones 9), Oregon State 31 (Lucas 10). Assists–Washington 15 (Robinson 4), Oregon State 17 (Hurd 5). Total fouls–Washington 23, Oregon State 16. A–9,696.