SEATTLE (Interstat) — Hannes Steinbach scored 26 points and dominated the interior as the Washington Huskies built a commanding first-half lead and withstood a late push to defeat the Minnesota Golden Gophers 69-57 in a Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at a sold-out Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

A crowd of 6,651 watched the Huskies improve to 13-13 overall and even their conference record, while Minnesota dropped to 11-14. The outcome aligned with the pregame analytics, as Washington entered with a 67.8 percent probability to win according to Interstat’s ELO system.

The most critical phase of the game was Washington’s overwhelming first-half performance, which established a deficit from which Minnesota could not recover. The Huskies, exploiting their significant advantage in size and athleticism, raced to a 39-26 halftime lead. They outscored the Golden Gophers 44-26 in the paint for the game and converted 17 points off Minnesota turnovers while limiting their guests to just 10.

Washington set the tone immediately, with Franck Kepnang winning the opening tip and finishing a dunk on the game’s first possession off an assist from Quimari Peterson. Steinbach, the 6-foot-11 forward from Wurzburg, Germany, was the central figure in the early onslaught. He scored eight of Washington’s first 14 points, showcasing a versatile array of post moves and mid-range jumpers. His activity fueled a 13-2 run midway through the half that turned a narrow 15-13 lead into a 28-15 advantage. The run was punctuated by defensive energy, including a Steinbach block that led to a transition opportunity.

Minnesota, reliant on the scoring of Cade Tyson, struggled to find consistent offense. Tyson, who finished with 22 points, hit a pair of early three-pointers to keep the Golden Gophers close, but Washington’s defensive pressure and length disrupted their rhythm. The Huskies forced 10 first-half turnovers, converting them into 11 points and generating several fast-break baskets to build their lead. A tip-in by Steinbach just before the halftime buzzer sent Washington to the locker room with a 13-point cushion, their largest of the half.

The second half saw Minnesota attempt to mount a challenge. A 7-2 spurt, capped by a Bobby Durkin three-pointer, cut the Washington lead to 48-40 with just over 15 minutes remaining. Durkin finished with 13 points for the Golden Gophers. Each time Minnesota threatened, however, Steinbach or guard Zoom Diallo had an answer. Diallo, a Tacoma native, scored 15 of his 17 points after halftime, repeatedly breaking down the defense with floaters and pull-up jumpers to stabilize the Huskies.

The decisive sequence came with Washington leading 57-51 and under nine minutes to play. Following a Minnesota timeout, Steinbach sealed his defender for a powerful dunk off a feed from Diallo, pushing the lead back to eight. On the ensuing possession, Diallo stole the ball and raced the length of the court for a layup, extending the margin to 10 and effectively extinguishing Minnesota’s momentum. A few minutes later, Steinbach delivered the final blow, throwing down another emphatic dunk off an assist from Diallo to give Washington a 69-57 lead with just under three minutes to play, matching the final score.

Steinbach’s 26-point effort came on efficient shooting and included two assists and two blocks. It continued a strong stretch for the junior, who had averaged 17.3 points over his previous three games. Diallo added four assists to his 17 points. For Minnesota, Isaac Asuma contributed 11 points, but the Golden Gophers were hampered by 17 turnovers and managed only four fast-break points compared to Washington’s 14.

The Huskies next travel to face Maryland on Feb. 21, while Minnesota continues its road trip at Oregon on Tuesday.