UW’s Free Throws Pay Off In Victory Over Portland

Pac-10/WCC/Big Sky

Mark Sanford, who didn’t score in the game’s first 8 minutes, had 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Washington Huskies to a 71-59 victory over the Portland Pilots Friday night at Seattle.

The Huskies (4-2) outscored the Pilots (6-2) 13-4 in the final 5-1/2 minutes, all on free throws. Washington outrebounded Portland 57-31.

Sanford, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, was 10 for 17 from the floor, including 2 for 4 from 3-point range.

Portland battled back from a 13-point deficit - at 53-40 - with 12:40 left to get to within 3 points at 58-55 with 5:36 left on a reverse layup by Dionn Holton. But the Huskies allowed only one basket by the Pilots after that.

Two free throws by Jason Hamilton and two more by Jamie Booker, who finished with 11 points, gave Washington a 62-55 lead with 5:03 left.

The only Pilots’ points in the last 5-1/2 minutes were a Holton 5-footer with 2:57 left and two Rick Brainard free throws with 34.5 seconds to go.

The Pilots, who lost their second in a row after getting off to a 6-0 start, were led by Brainard’s 17 points.

The Huskies led 20-16 after Brainard’s 3-pointer with 10:16 left in the first half before going on a 9-0 run for a 29-16 lead with 6:06 before halftime.

The Pilots scored only seven points in the final 9:44 of the first half as Washington grabbed a 34-23 halftime lead.

Oregon 66, Montana 64

Kenya Wilkins made two free throws with 14 seconds left to give the Ducks (6-3) enough of a cushion to survive with a victory over the Grizzlies (7-3) at Missoula, Mont.

Wilkins, who led all scorers with 23 points, was fouled after UM guard Shane Belnap traveled while trying to get off a 3-point attempt.

UM guard Kirk Walker then chased down a 3-point miss by Belnap and heaved in a 3-pointer with 5.7 seconds left to cut the lead to 66-64.

Montana St. 121, Alcorn St. 69

Nine of 10 Montana State players scored in double figures as the Bobcats ran away from the Braves (2-5) at Bozeman, Mont.

Montana State (6-2) bolted out to an 18-6 lead and extended it to 59-32 by halftime as Nico Harrison and Mike Elliott each scored 10 first-half points.

Stanford 80, Navy 62

Andy Poppink scored 21 points and Dion Cross added 16 as the Cardinal (4-2) defeated the Midshipmen (4-3) at Annapolis, Md. Stanford led 41-29 at halftime and never trailed. Navy never got closer than 7 points.

Arizona St. 76, NAU 62

Quincy Brewer scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to lead the Sun Devils (4-2) past the Lumberjacks (3-5) at Tempe, Ariz.

Santa Clara 75, Pacific 70

Steve Nash scored 17 points and Adam Anderson made a crucial last-minute tip-in as the Broncos (8-2) held off the Tigers (4-2) at Santa Clara, Calif.

USF 72, Cal St. Fullerton 53

Gerald Walker scored 18 points, one of four San Francisco players in double figures, as the Dons (5-3) cruised past the Titans (1-5) at San Francisco.

Gonzaga 68, E. Washington 55

EASTERN WASHINGTON (1-8) - Rideout 5-14 0-0 11, King 2-3 0-0 5, Dean 2-5 1-1 5, Porter 1-8 0-0 2, Groves 0-0 2-4 2, Carter 2-6 0-0 5, Sims 5-7 0-1 10, Thompson 0-1 1-2 1, Lewis 4-8 2-4 10, Egan 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 23-55 6-12 55.

GONZAGA (5-2) - Dixon 6-11 1-3 14, Williams 1-2 0-0 2, Snider 2-2 0-1 4, Rogers 6-12 1-2 13, Kinloch 5-13 2-3 16, Rollins 2-6 0-0 6, Leasure 4-4 1-1 9, Ball 0-0 0-0 0, Kincaid 1-1 0-0 2, Hendrix 0-1 0-0 0, Bond 1-3 0-0 2, Nemeth 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 28-55 5-10 68.

Halftime-Gonzaga 42, EWU 30. 3-Point goals-EWU 3-10 (Rideout 1-3, King 1-2, Porter 0-2, Carter 1-3), Gonzaga 7-18 (Dixon 1-1, Williams 0-1, Kinloch 4-9, Rollins 2-6, Hendrix 0-1). Fouled out-Dean. Rebounds-EWU 30 (Lewis 6), Gonzaga 38 (Snider 9). Assists-EWU 3 (King, Porter, Sims 1), Gonzaga 18 (Dixon 7). Total fouls-EWU 17, Gonzaga 18. A-3,560.