SEATTLE — Andrew Andrews became the first Washington player to top the 40-point mark since 1969, scoring a career-best 47 points in the final regular season home game of his career and the Huskies beat Washington State 99-91 on Wednesday night.
Andrews was honored as the Huskies only senior before the game then provided a memorable exclamation to his career. Andrews scored 20 points in the first half and was the instigator of a 15-6 run to start the second half as the Huskies built a 19-point lead. Andrews added 11 straight points later in the second half as Washington (17-13, 9-9) built a 27-point lead.
Andrews finished with the second-highest point total in school history trailing only Bob Houbregs’ 49 points in 1953. Andrews tied St. Bonaventure’s Marcus Posley — who also scored a career-high 47 on Wednesday — for the most single-game points by a NCAA Division I player this season.
Josh Hawkinson led Washington State (9-21, 1-17) with 23 points and 17 rebounds, but the Cougars lost their 16th straight game.
As the only senior on the roster, Andrews was tasked with being the leader for a crop of raw freshmen that were going to determine Washington’s success this season. Andrews more than did his part and will finish the regular season as the Pac-12 leader in scoring.
Andrews made 13 of 22 shots, including five 3-pointers, and was a 15 of 16 at the free-throw line — his only miss coming in his final trip to the line with four seconds left. He added six rebounds and four assists and staked Washington to a 27-point lead in the second half before the Cougars late rally made the final margin more respectable.
Dejounte Murray added 15 points and the Huskies got a bit of needed momentum heading into next week’s Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas after being swept last week by the Oregon schools.
Andrews scored 14 during a 23-8 run to close the first half and gave the Huskies a 10-point lead at the break. He started quietly in the second half before scoring eight points in a row out of a timeout to eclipse his previous career high of 35.
He was not done.
Andrews added a driving layup and another step-back jumper to reach 42 points with 8:40 remaining, leading the crowd to chant his name in unison.
Andrews checked out with about eight minutes left to take a breather, but prodded by chants of “We want Drew,” from the student section, Andrews was sent back into the game with 4:59 left and the Huskies leading 87-64.
He failed to score during that return, but was sent back into the game with 58 seconds left after Washington State had trimmed the lead to 10.
Andrews added five more free throws in the closing seconds for his final total.
Tip-ins
Washington State: Que Johnson added 20 points, including four 3-pointers. … The Cougars posted the worst Pac-12 mark since USC finished 1-17 in 2012. Washington State also finished 1-17 in conference play in 2002.
Washington: George Irvin was the last Washington player to top 40 points when he scored 41 . … The Huskies forced 11 turnovers in the first half and completed the regular season forcing at least 10 turnovers in every game.
Up next
Washington State: The Cougars will face the No. 5 seed in the Pac-12 tournament next Wednesday.
Washington: The Huskies will play on the opening day of the Pac-12 tournament.
