As the old adage goes, you live and die by the three, and on Monday night Washington (2-0) experienced the full scale of ups and downs as it set a new program record for three-point attempts in the win over Mississippi Valley State (0-2), 77-64.
On Monday night, Washington shot 50 three-pointers, obliterating the previous record of 37 against Oakland in 2015. The Huskies also tied the record for most three-point makes in a game with 17, tying the most recent instance against Cal in 2011. UW also made 11 three-pointers in the first half, the most in the past 15 years.
“We knew with the game plan coming in, our preparation, we’d be shot-ready behind the three-point line,” UW point guard Ryan Beasley said. “Throw it in the post. We knew the way they guarded, the weak side would be open so [we] just took the right shots and made the extra pass, so I think we took great shots tonight.”
Bounce back games for Venters and Friedrichsen
After combining for just 1-7 shooting in the win over Colgate, Steele Venters and Parker Friedrichsen had much needed bounce back performances on Monday. The Delta Devils jolted out to an 8-3 advantage, but Venters steadied the ship hitting two three-pointers in the first 1:37 of gametime.
“It was big time, the team looks a lot different when I’m knocking down shots, and these guys make it easy for me, so yeah it was big time tonight,” Venters said.
Washington steadily grew the lead in the first half as Friedrichsen also started to get going. Friedrichsen hit three three-pointers in just over three minutes, giving UW a seven point lead with 12:42 left in the first half. In the first half, Venters and Friedrichsen combined for 21 points on seven three-point makes.
Venters finished with 15 points on five three-pointers and Friedrichsen led UW with 17 points with another five three-pointers. After scoring a combined three points against Colgate, the sharp-shooting duo combined for 32 points and 10 threes in the victory.
Ryan Beasley brilliance
Washington sputtered out of the gates in the second half and Mississippi Valley State cut the double-digit halftime lead to four. UW’s three-point barrage in the first half went to the wayside to start the second, missing its first eight attempts from long range.
The Huskies broke out of the funk in large part due to Beasley. A spectacular offensive rebound putback from Beasley put UW up by nine. Beasley hit the first two threes of the half for UW which put it up 17 points with just over 13 minutes left. From there, Washington cruised the rest of the way with Beasley at the forefront.
Beasley finished the half with 10 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. For the Game, the point guard finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, notching his first career double-double.
“Our guys played great defense and they boxed out, and I just come and clean it up, didn’t really do the dirty work. So shoutout to my teammates for that,” Beasley said on his rebounding performance. “I just had a knack for the ball, when the ball comes off the rim I try to go get it.”
Up Next
Washington heads to Salt Lake City, Utah to take on the Utah Utes in its toughest test so far this season on Saturday, November 14 at 4:00 pm. The game will air on ESPN+
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