Conroy sparks UW

SEATTLE – On New Year’s Eve, the calendar was supposed to flip over, not stick to the wall, but Washington’s 13th-ranked men’s basketball team couldn’t get rid of 2004 or the California Golden Bears.

Finally, the Huskies welcomed in a new year and a fresh Pac-10 schedule with a gritty 81-67 victory in sold-out Edmundson Pavilion on Friday.

All it took was for senior playmaker Will Conroy to remind everyone closing time was fast approaching.

After watching a 16-point first-half lead turn into a three-point deficit coming down the stretch, and the conference opener in danger of slipping away, Conroy jumped in the middle of a team huddle and started reciting memorable dates in recent UW basketball history.

“I said, ‘Remember where we’ve come from, that this was us last year, down four, down six, with only a couple minutes left to play, and having to come back again and again, and we always did it,’ ” Conroy said.

“It was almost a reminder of last season, but we don’t want do what we did last season. We want to get a lead and hold it.”

Jamaal Williams’ two free throws with 8:38 to play ignited a 21-6 closing rush and the Huskies won a seventh consecutive game to improve to 11-1 for the 11th time in school history, but the first since Bob Houbregs’ 1953 Final Four club.

The Huskies rescued this one without the services of junior swingman Brandon Roy, who felt discomfort in his surgically repaired knee and sat out, though he was in uniform. He tripped in practice Tuesday, had fluid drained Thursday and probably won’t play Sunday against Stanford, either.

“I couldn’t jump,” Roy said. “I’ll definitely be ready for Thursday’s game against USC.”

Cal (7-4) was hardly sympathetic, showing up without the services of two injured starters: All-Pac-10 forward Leon Powe and point guard Ayinde Ubaka.

With a huge but green lineup, the Bears battled back from a 41-25 deficit late in the first half to make it a game, closing the first 20 minutes with a 7-0 run.

With 12 minutes remaining in the game, Cal took its first lead at 53-51. Three minutes later, they were still on top, 60-57.

With the crowd nervously stirring, Conroy delivered his message, then finished off a well-rounded outing.

The nation’s third-best assist man came up with seven more, surpassing Eldridge Recasner to become UW’s second all-time playmaker with 379 career assists.

He provided 11 points, making him one of five Huskies in double figures, with UW’s Tre Simmons and Cal’s Richard Midgley leading all scorers with 18 apiece.

Conroy also got after Midgley on defense, helping hold the British import scoreless the final 11 minutes.

“He was a warrior down the stretch,” UW coach Lorenzo Romar said. “If he’s not on the floor tonight, I don’t know if we win that game.”

Simmons was in game-long foul trouble, sitting down nearly every time he started to get hot. Fellow starters Nate Robinson and Mike Jensen never really warmed up and were held well below their averages with nine and two points, respectively.

Bobby Jones was the only other first-teamer who seemed to flourish, chipping in 16 points and nine rebounds. Williams and freshman Joel Smith were solid off the bench, with 11 and 10 points, respectively.

“He led by example,” Robinson said of Conroy. “He made sure we stayed together. That’s what leaders do.”

Washington 81, California 67

California (7-4) – Benson 6-11 0-0 12, McGuire 1-2 0-1 2, Hardin 3-6 1-3 7, Midgley 5-14 4-4 18, M.Smith 0-3 0-0 0, Vierneisel 0-0 0-0 0, Kately 6-11 2-2 15, Langford 0-1 2-2 2, Pribble 0-0 0-0 0, Paris 4-7 3-4 11. Totals 25-55 12-16 67.

Washington (11-1) – B.Jones 6-11 3-4 16, Jensen 1-3 0-2 2, Simmons 6-10 4-4 18, Robinson 3-10 1-2 9, Conroy 4-7 2-2 11, J.Smith 4-6 0-0 10, Rollins 1-2 2-2 4, Williams 4-9 3-6 11. Totals 29-58 15-22 81.

Halftime—Washington 41, California 32. 3-Point goals—California 5-10 (Midgley 4-7, Kately 1-3), Washington 8-17 (Simmons 2-3, ,J.Smith 2-3, Robinson 2-5, B.Jones 1-2, Conroy 1-4). Fouled out—None. Rebounds—California 31 (Hardin 9), Washington 32 (B.Jones 9). Assists—California 12 (M.Smith 7), Washington 19 (Conroy 7). Total fouls—California 21, Washington 19. A—10,000.