Hits keep coming for NU: Washington beats Northwestern 76-71, 'Cats lose Jalen Leach for the season
A heartbroken Chris Collins says Northwestern's Brooks Barnhizer will miss rest of the year
Chris Collins couldn't hold back his emotion as he announced Northwestern star Brooks Barnhizer will miss the rest of the year after suffering a foot injury.
The Northwestern Wildcats deserve a break.
Northwestern lost 76-71 on Saturday night. It wasn't the biggest loss of the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day on Saturday.
The Wildcats were without starting point guard Jalen Leach. 'Cats coach Chris Collins got ejected. NU trailed by as many as 14 points.
On Sunday morning, the team announced Leach would be lost for the season with an ACL injury. This news comes on the heels of the team losing star Brooks Barnhizer for the season.
How it happened
Tyler Harris scored 18 points, Great Osobor added 16 points and nine rebounds and Washington blew a 14-point second-half lead before the Huskies held on to snap a four-game home losing streak.
DJ Davis scored 15 points and Zoom Diallo 10 for Washington (12-11, 3-9 Big Ten).
Mullins hit a 3-pointer that gave the Wildcats a 6-2 lead about two minutes into the game but they went scoreless over the next 6-plus minutes, going 0 for 7 from the field with three turnovers as Washington scored 10 consecutive points.
Davis hit a 3-pointer with 7:59 left in the first half to spark an 18-6 run that made it 34-22 with 3:03 to until halftime.
Diallo hit a jumper to make it 49-34 early in the second half but Mullins hit a 3-pointer 17 seconds later that sparked an 11-0 run and Jordan Clayton capped a 9-2 spurt with a 3 that made it 55-55 with 7:48 to play.
Osobor converted a three-point play to give the Huskies the lead for good and Davis followed with a 3 to make it 71-66 with 1:19 to go.
Who starred
Nick Martinelli scored seven consecutive points to make it 66-62 with 3:41 remaining and give Northwestern its first lead since the opening minutes. Martinelli led Northwestern (13-11, 4-9) with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Ty Berry added 14 points and Justin Mullins scored 13.
What's next
This is a two-pronged question.
Northwestern plays Tuesday at Oregon. Washington hits the road to play Wednesday at Ohio State.
How the team moves on after injuries to Leach and Barnhizer remains to be seen. Clayton got his first start of the season, but the team needs more from KJ Windham and Angelo Ciaravino who are being asked to grow up quickly.