Washington again uses 2nd half to rally past Cal Poly

SEATTLE (AP) — Keion Brooks posted a career-high 30 points and Washington needed a second-half run to beat Cal Poly 74-68 on Tuesday night.

Washington (8-3) continued his season trend of being a strong player in the second half and a slow starter in the first half. The Huskies shot 38% in the first half and 50% in the second. Against the Mustangs, they shot 25% in the first and 66.7% in the second.

PJ Fuller II’s 3-pointer with a 10:31 lead started a 12:0 run and turned a 51:44 deficit into a 56:51 lead with 6:47 remaining and Washington stayed ahead the rest of the way. Up until this point, the Huskies had never led by more than 83 seconds, which happened early.

Cal Poly’s (5-4) Trevon Taylor made a jump shot and a 3-pointer to prematurely end a 12-0 run, and Cal Poly maintained control for the rest of the first half. Nick Fleming’s 3-pointer gave Cal Poly a 25-10 lead and they went 35-24 by halftime.

Cole Bajema scored 13 points for Washington and Braxton Meah 11.

Chance Hunter and Taylor each scored 13 for the Mustangs.

This is the first meeting between the huskies and mustangs since 2016 and the third overall.

Washington won by double digits at each of the two previous meetings, both in Seattle. The Huskies are now 5-5 all time against Big West opponents.

Cal Poly’s last win against a Pac-12 conference opponent came on Nov. 25, 2012, when the Mustangs erased an 18-point deficit and were then No. 1 with 12 minutes left. 11 UCLA a 70-68 loss.