Jensen carries UW
SEATTLE – Mike Jensen helped No. 13 Washington show its depth.
The 6-foot-8 junior forward snapped out a season-long scoring funk with a career-high 17 points Sunday and the Huskies beat Stanford 76-73 for their eighth straight win.
Jensen was 6-of-9 from the field, hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 67 with 3:12 to play, and his two free throws with 12 seconds left provided the final margin. Stanford’s Nick Robinson missed a 3-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the game.
Jensen entered the game averaging 6.8 points, but first-year Stanford coach Trent Johnson wasn’t surprised by the reserve’s big day.
“They have about eight guys who can score,” said Johnson, a Seattle native who was an assistant coach with the Huskies from 1989-92. “Mike Jensen is a heck of a player. What makes Washington so good is that no matter who they put in, you have to guard them.”
Jensen said this game will help his confidence.
“I just got it rolling and it didn’t stop,” said Jensen, who had seven rebounds. “I finally started hitting the shots that I hit all last year.”
The Huskies (12-1, 2-0 Pac-10) dropped the two-time defending conference champion Cardinal (6-6) to their first 0-2 start in league play since 1990-91. It is also the first time Stanford has been swept on the road by the Washington schools since 1993.
“This was our best game of the year,” said Stanford’s Tim Morris. “Washington is good, but we could have beaten them today.”
Tre Simmons also had 17 points for Washington, while Nate Robinson added 10.
Last March, Simmons led the Huskies with 16 points when they ended the Cardinal’s 26-game winning streak.
Chris Hernandez and Dan Grunfeld each had 15 points for Stanford, while Rob Little and Morris each added 12 and Robinson had 11.
The Cardinal managed to slow down the pace and every time it looked like Washington would blow the game open, Stanford would crawl back into it.
“That was stressful,” said Washington coach Lorenzo Romar, who has led the Huskies to their best start in 29 years. “It seems like every game it’s someone different. Tonight, Mike Jensen was very good at both ends of the floor. A couple of guys always raise up above the crowd and will us to win.”
Jensen’s 17-foot jumper gave Washington a 60-49 lead with 9:12 to play, but Stanford responded with a 14-2 run and took its first lead at 63-62 on Grunfeld’s 3-pointer with 4:57 to play.
The Huskies entered the game averaging 90.8 points, second in the nation, but shot just 42 percent from the field.
Washington 76, Stanford 73
Stanford (6-6, 0-2)–Grunfeld 6-13 0-0 15, Ni.Robinson 5-12 0-0 11, Haryasz 2-5 2-2 6, Morris 5-14 1-1 12, Hernandez 7-13 0-0 15, Haas 0-0 0-0 0, Little 6-9 0-0 12, Washington 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 31-66 5-5 73.
Washington (12-1, 2-0)–Jones 3-5 0-1 6, Jensen 6-9 4-4 17, Simmons 6-14 4-5 17, Na.Robinson 4-12 2-2 10, Conroy 1-7 5-6 8, Smith 1-2 0-0 3, Roy 3-5 0-0 6, Rollins 0-2 2-6 2, Williams 3-8 1-3 7. Totals 27-64 18-27 76.
Halftime–Washington 36, Stanford 33. 3-point goals–Stanford 6-19 (Grunfeld 3-5, Ni.Robinson 1-4, Morris 1-4, Hernandez 1-6), Washington 4-7 (Jensen 1-1, Smith 1-1, Simmons 1-2, Conroy 1-3). Fouled out–Haryasz. Rebounds–Stanford 39 (Haryasz, Little 10), Washington 37 (Jensen, Simmons 7). Assists–Stanford 14 (Hernandez 4), Washington 16 (Conroy 7). Total fouls–Stanford 22, Washington 10. A–10,000.