Washington vs Colorado basketball live updates: Scores and highlights

Washington's Comeback in the Second Half

Washington is playing with renewed energy, trailing Colorado 51-49 with just over eight minutes left in the second half. The Huskies have nearly erased a 17-point halftime deficit, and their defensive efforts have been nothing short of remarkable. The team has forced four turnovers, leading to a 12-2 run over the last 5:15. Colorado has gone without scoring for nearly five minutes, shooting just 1-for-11 since the break.

As the game progresses, Washington continues to show signs of being energized. At 15:44 into the second half, the score is 51-41 in favor of Colorado. While the Huskies haven't closed the gap further, they are playing with a different intensity, particularly on defense. However, they need to avoid foul trouble, as they've already committed four fouls in the early minutes of the half.

At 18:22 into the second half, Washington is up 47-37 against Colorado. Danny Sprinkle addressed the TruTV broadcast crew, stating that he didn't see any fire or fight from his team in the first half. The Huskies responded with a strong start to the second half, beginning with a 7-0 run. This included an emphatic block from Franck Kepnang and a three-pointer from Quimari Peterson, which prompted Tad Boyle to call a timeout.

Halftime Analysis

At halftime, Colorado leads 47-30. This was arguably the worst half of basketball played by the Huskies this season. Depth issues have become apparent in the frontcourt, and the Buffaloes are dominating inside with forwards Bangot Dek and Alon Michaeli, who are tied for the game-high with 9 points each. They are shooting 55 percent from the floor, while Washington is struggling, making just 9 of its 32 attempts (28 percent) in the first half.

USC transfer Desmond Claude, still finding his footing after missing over a month due to an ankle injury, was only 1-for-8 in the first half. The only reason Colorado doesn't have a larger lead is because the Huskies are perfect from the free throw line, going 11-for-11.

If the Huskies can improve their shooting performance, there is still a path back into the game. They are only down five in the rebound battle, with Colorado leading 21-16. Washington committed just four turnovers in the first half, and the team continues to build chemistry.

First Half Struggles

With 3:19 remaining in the first half, Colorado holds a 42-26 lead. The Buffaloes are showing immense energy after Bangot Dek blocked Franck Kepnang. The Huskies have struggled throughout the first half, shooting just 31 percent from the field. Colorado, on the other hand, is converting at a 63 percent rate and has 10 assists, contributing to the large 16-point deficit.

At 7:38 into the first half, Washington is trailing 27-13. After a strong performance against Nevada, none of that momentum has carried over to the matchup with Colorado. The Huskies have missed their last eight shots from the field and have gone 5:56 without a field goal. On the other side, Alon Michaeli has been dominant off the bench, leading all scorers with 9 points.

Washington may need to get to the free throw line to make a comeback. The Huskies have an opportunity to attack the paint now that senior center Elijah Malone had to sit due to three fouls.

Early Game Challenges

With 11:44 remaining in the first half, Washington is trailing 22-9. The Huskies are shooting just 29 percent (4-for-14) from the field, while the Buffaloes are red hot, converting on 69 percent (9-for-13) of their attempts. Alon Michaeli and Sebastian Rancik are leading the charge with 7 and 6 points respectively.

At 15:45 into the first half, Bangot Dak is making an impact early, scoring 11-2 for Colorado. He has 5 points, including a three-pointer, 3 rebounds, and a blocked shot. The Huskies are off to a poor start, shooting just 1-for-8 from the field in Palm Springs.

Injury Report

According to the Seattle Times' Percy Allen, Steinbach is going through pregame warmups in Palm Springs, indicating a positive sign for his availability for Big Ten play, whether or not he feels good enough to play today.

Freshman sensation Hannes Steinbach is listed as questionable for Friday's game. He has missed Washington's last two contests after rolling his ankle against Washington State. While he would be a significant boost to the frontcourt, Danny Sprinkle may choose to play it safe with the German national and aim for a return on Wednesday when the UCLA Bruins come to town to open Big Ten play.

Pre-Game Insights

The Washington Huskies had a strong performance against the Nevada Wolfpack in an 83-66 win at the Acrisure Invitational. Now, Danny Sprinkle's team will look to defend its title in Palm Springs, California, against the Colorado Buffaloes in an old-school Pac-12 matchup.

The Buffaloes secured a 79-69 win over the San Francisco Dons on Thursday and will now face a Husky team that found its touch from long range. Wesley Yates led the way with 25 points and connected on 4-of-8 three-point attempts, while Zoom Diallo added 19 points. The short-handed Huskies were a force on the offensive end, especially in the second half, shooting 52 percent from the field after the break and finishing the game at 57 percent from three-point range.

Peterson finished with 13 points and connected on 3-of-4 long-range attempts, while Franck Kepnang, the only fully healthy member of the frontcourt, contributed 15 points on a perfect 6-for-6 from the field, along with 5 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Against the Buffaloes, the Huskies are hoping that freshman forward Hannes Steinbach, ranked third in the nation with 12.8 rebounds per game, will be able to suit up after being listed as questionable ahead of the game.

The game is set to tip off at 1:30 p.m. PST.