Arizona lost its fourth straight game for the first time in a decade Thursday, when Washington beat the Wildcats 67-60 at McKale Center with efficiency on both ends of the court.
Washington held Arizona to 37.7 percent shooting and forced 20 UA turnovers, while the Huskies shot 51 percent from the field, with five players in double figures.
David Crisp had 17 points to lead Washington offensively while the league’s reigning defensive player of the year, Washington guard Matisse Thybulle, added 15 points, five blocks and five steals.
Justin Coleman led the Wildcats with 16 points while Chase Jeter had 12.
The loss dropped Arizona to 14-9 overall and 5-5 in the Pac-12, while Washington improved to 19-4 and 10-0. The Wildcats last lost four straight games during the 2008-09 season, when they were led by interim head coach Russ Pennell.
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With Brandon Williams nursing a knee injury, the Wildcats had only eight players available who were recruited with scholarship offers. UA coach Sean Miller started Ryan Luther and Jeter inside, leaving Ira Lee off the bench along with guards Devonaire Doutrive and Alex Barcello.
The Wildcats fell behind by up to seven points early in the second half, after Washington went on a 10-2 run after halftime and their offenses gradually heated up. The Huskies shot 52.9 percent over the first 12 minutes of the half, with reserve guard Naz Carter scoring six points on 3-for-3 shooting to that point.
The Huskies then took a double-digit lead, 56-45, when Crisp hit a jumper with 7:30 left in the game.
In the first half, Arizona trailed Washington just 29-28, with Jeter leading the Wildcats with 10 points and two rebounds and Doutrive grabbing four rebounds off the bench.
The Wildcats turned the ball over on their first three possession against the Huskies' zone, falling behind 5-0, but kept pace throughout the first half with an inspired defensive effort.
Washington shot 44 percent from the field in the first half while UA outrebounded the Huskies by 16-12 and allowed them to score only six points off the Wildcats' 11 early turnovers.
UA trailed by up to four points in the half but tied the game at 14 on a 3-pointer from Smith with 9:02 left in the first.
A three-point play by Coleman was later offset with a 3-pointer from Crisp and the Huskies held a 19-18 lead entering the final four minutes after Naz Carter scored inside. The game remained within one possession the rest of the half.
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at 573-4146 or bpascoe@tucson.com. On Twitter @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
