HONOLULU – Playing their second game in 24 hours, the Huskies didn’t have the normal spring in their legs, which partly explained their ragged start offensively Monday night.
However, No. 21 Washington did have its trademark 2-3 zone defense, which stifled Hawaii’s perimeter attack and proved to be the catalyst for a 72-61 men’s basketball victory in the second round of the Diamond Head Classic.
Washington (10-2) plays Houston (9-3), which beat Texas-El Paso 70-59 in the other semifinal, in the title game 5:30 p.m. PT Wednesday.
Hawaii never solved the Huskies’ confounding defense, which held the Rainbow Warriors to 9 of 39 on three-pointers.