SEATTLE — In an exciting match on Thursday night, Great Osobor played a pivotal role, scoring 20 points and securing 14 rebounds, while freshman Vazoumana “Zoom” Diallo achieved a personal best of 18 points, leading the Washington Huskies to a 75-69 victory over Maryland. This win marked the Huskies’ first in the Big Ten Conference.
DJ Davis also contributed significantly to the team’s success, going a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line, including two critical shots that helped seal the game with just 10 seconds remaining, pushing the score to 74-69. With this victory, Washington improved to 10-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
The victory was especially noteworthy for first-year head coach Danny Sprinkle, as it represented his first significant achievement within the program. The Huskies overcame a Maryland team that was just on the fringes of the latest AP Top 25 rankings. The Terrapins had amassed 133 points, the highest total among unranked teams, and only six points short of No. 25 Baylor.
In a key play late in the game, Diallo maneuvered into the left block, pivoting back into the lane to assist Osobor with a layup and an accompanying free throw, giving Washington a crucial 70-65 lead with just over a minute remaining in this historic first matchup between the two teams.
On the opposing side, Julian Reese led Maryland with 22 points. However, his teammates Ja’Kobi Gillespie, a 6-foot-1 transfer from Belmont, and consensus five-star recruit Derik Queen struggled, managing only five points combined on an abysmal 1-of-13 shooting with no rebounds to show for their efforts, alongside a combined total of eight fouls and five turnovers.
Washington effectively dictated the pace of the game, utilizing a slower tempo that disrupted the Terrapins’ typically fast-paced offense. Maryland entered the game averaging 87.2 points per contest, which ranked them 12th in the nation, but they were held below 74 points for the first time this season.
Looking ahead, Maryland is set to travel to take on No. 9 Oregon this Sunday, while Washington will host the 22nd-ranked Illinois on the same day.
