This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Oregon State had little difficulty shooting against the Utes on Saturday, but when the ball's course to the rim was diverted, it was usually by Jason Washburn.
Washburn, the Utes' 6-foot-10 center, didn't merely exceed his previous career high for blocks in Utah's 76-58 loss, he doubled it. His five first-half blocks were impressive enough, but then he added three more in the second to give him eight: the third most in program history.
"I was just in the right place in the right time, really," Washburn said. "They were driving, trying to go at our guys. … That's what my team depends on me to do; haven't really been doing it much this season."
Despite Washburn's efforts, the Beavers, who lead the Pac-12 in point per game, shot 46 percent from the field and converted 26 baskets. Fifty of their points came in the paint, where Washburn's presence is supposed to be most felt.
OK, so there wasn't quite a total eclipse of the rim, but Washburn's defensive effort was, according to Utes coach Larry Krystkowiak, the one bright spot in yet another lopsided loss for the Utes.
"It was great," he said. "When they got around the basket, I thought he was a presence and had some nice timing."
Washburn's most memorable block was a soaring block from behind, as an Oregon State player went to the rim against forward Dijon Farr.
Many of his other blocks, though, were less memorable, little tapaways that often found their way back to Oregon State players. The Utes had a great deal of trouble capitalizing on Washburn's blocks. Six of them were recovered by the Beavers, who had nearly as many offensive rebounds (18) as the Utes had defensively (21).
For a game, though, Washburn was the defensive presence the Utes planned for David Foster to be, before the 7-foot-3 center was lost for the season with a broken foot.
Washburn had previously blocked two shots in a game five times, but Saturday he joined Foster in the record book. Foster entered the game with five of the seven best block performances in program history, a school-record 10 against Weber State in 2009.
Twitter: @oramb