Second-half surge lifts Huskies

CORVALLIS, Ore. – It took Washington one half to get warmed up, but there was no slowing the Huskies after they got back on the court.

Washington turned a seven-point halftime lead into 14 in 5 minutes Saturday, then pulled away for an 85-59 Pacific-10 Conference win against Oregon State.

“We guarded and we got the ball inside,” Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said of his team’s second half, which saw the Huskies outscore the host Beavers 51-32. “We didn’t just settle for the 3-point bomb.”

Washington (13-4, 4-1) was the Pac-10’s highest-scoring offense and best rebounding team entering the game and displayed it in both categories. With the win, Washington moved into first-place in the Pac-10, tied with UCLA and California. The Bruins and Bears both lost on Saturday.

Jon Brockman led five Huskies in double figures with 16 points to go with a game-high nine rebounds. Quincy Pondexter added 15 points, Justin Dentmon 13, Matthew Bryan-Amaning 12 and Isaiah Thomas 10.

Seth Tarver had 16 points and Lathen Wallace 13 for Oregon State (6-10, 1-5).

The Huskies finished with a 46-19 rebounding edge, including a 21-7 advantage in the first half with 10 offensive boards.

“We rebounded it well. Guys attacked the glass,” said Brockman, who became Washington’s all-time leading rebounder Thursday in a win at Oregon.

Washington steadily increased its 34-27 halftime lead. The Huskies led 52-38 on a Bryan-Amaning dunk with 15 minutes remaining.

Brockman scored the last four points in a 10-2 run that put the Huskies ahead 62-42. Washington led by as many as 27, and Oregon State got no closer than 19 in the last 9 minutes.

With Oregon State primarily playing zone, the Huskies shot 12 of 25 from the field in the first half then 22 of 33 in the second half.

“As soon as we figured out where we wanted to get the ball, we worked well in it,” Brockman said. “The guys did a nice job of moving the ball around.”

Craig Robinson, Oregon State’s first-year head coach, said his team took a step back against Washington.

“We had a regression from our toughness quotient,” Robinson said, pointing out defensive rebounding and offensive execution. “We just need to work harder at practice.”

Washington 85, Oregon St. 59

Washington (13-4, 4-1)—Pondexter 5-6 5-5 15, Brockman 7-9 2-2 16, Gant 1-1 0-0 2, Thomas 3-7 2-2 10, Dentmon 5-11 1-2 13, Overton 3-5 0-0 6, Bryan-Amaning 6-10 0-0 12, Suggs 2-3 0-0 4, Wallace 1-2 1-2 3, Holiday 0-1 0-0 0, Turner 1-3 0-0 3, Wolfinger 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 34-58 12-15 85.

Oregon St. (6-10, 1-5)—Deane 2-7 2-2 7, Schaftenaar 3-7 0-0 6, Claitt 0-0 1-2 1, S.Tarver 6-9 4-5 16, Wallace 5-14 0-1 13, McShane 0-1 0-0 0, Hampton 0-0 0-0 0, J.Tarver 0-2 0-0 0, Haynes 3-11 0-1 8, Johnson 4-8 0-1 8. Totals 23-59 7-12 59.

Halftime—Washington 34-27. 3-Point Goals—Washington 5-17 (Thomas 2-5, Dentmon 2-7, Turner 1-3, Overton 0-1, Suggs 0-1), Oregon St. 6-24 (Wallace 3-6, Haynes 2-8, Deane 1-5, Schaftenaar 0-1, S.Tarver 0-2, Johnson 0-2). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Washington 46 (Brockman, Bryan-Amaning 9), Oregon St. 19 (Deane, Haynes 3). Assists—Washington 16 (Thomas 4), Oregon St. 12 (S.Tarver 3). Total Fouls—Washington 17, Oregon St. 16. A—6,648.