The Huskies youthful basketball team passed it’s first test of the season with flying colors with an impressive come from behind win over the 16th ranked Baylor Bears in the Armed Forces Classic Friday night in Anchorage Alaska. Beating a ranked opponent in a neutral site is something for the young Huskies to build on. As mentioned the Huskies are young and will go throughs some growing pains.
DEFENSIVE BLUE PRINT
Head coach Mike Hopkins motto of defense wins games has landed in the minds of the Huskies. The Huskies limited the Bears to a 35.4% field goal percentage with the Bears making just 23 of 65 shot from the field. The Huskies long armed defense limited Baylor to making 8 of 21 three point tries. Stats aside the Huskies played a stifling 2-3 zone defense overcome a 59-46 deficit with 8:45 left in the game by outscoring the Bears 21-5 down the stretch to pull of the win.
YOUNG GUNS CAN SCORES
In addition to playing stifling defense the Huskies young stars can score. Isaiah Stewart overcame a double team with a turn around jumper that gave the Huskies a 67-64 lead with 30 seconds left in the game. Stewart finished with 15 points. Nahziah Carter led the Huskies in scoring with 23 points while Jaden McDaniel poured in 18 points. Carter hit a tying 3-pointer with 1:38 left, and after Baylor missed a pair of 3-point tries, before Stewart made his layup. Jared Butler had 18 points for the Bears (1-1).
TAKE AWAY
The Huskies showed that they can clamp down on opponents when needed. Plenty of good opponents lay ahead for the Huskies. The key to winning those games will be to play good defense from the start of the game and finish as they did Friday night. The Huskies were 12-17 from the free throw line which is 70% and anda considerable improvement from the 46.9 % (15-32) they shot against Western Washington last week. In Fridays game Carter had an opportunity to ice the game with 15 seconds left and he made 1-2.
