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Huskies rout Oregon

Washington's Justin Dentmon has his shot blocked by Oregon's Ivan Johnson (44) with Maarty Leunen also defending. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Gregg Bell Associated Press
Washington's Justin Dentmon has his shot blocked by Oregon's Ivan Johnson (44) with Maarty Leunen also defending. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

SEATTLE – Washington coach Lorenzo Romar asked his leaders to lead.

They did Saturday night.

Jamaal Williams scored 20 points, Brandon Roy scored 19 and Bobby Jones added 15 as Washington’s three seniors turned what Romar called leadership “discussions” into a 78-59 victory over Oregon.

It was only the fifth time in 18 games the seniors were the top three scorers for Washington (16-2, 5-2 Pac-10), which also starts two freshmen.

Malik Hairston scored 17 points and reserve Brandon Lincoln added 12 for Oregon, which lost for the 13th time in 14 games against ranked teams – one week after it upset then-No. 24 Arizona at home. The Ducks (10-9, 4-3) also saw their three-game winning streak end.

Washington, meanwhile, saw how leadership can work wonders.

And those seniors did more than score.

Williams continually harassed Hairston defensively. Oregon’s leading scorer was limited to 6 of 18 shooting.

Roy, whom Romar calls Washington’s “best on-ball defender,” stymied point guard and Seattle native Aaron Brooks. Roy held the man whom he has played with and against since third grade to four points – Brooks’ lowest output in 17 games.

The Huskies moved into a tie with UCLA for first place by winning their fourth straight conference game since stunning, consecutive home losses to Arizona and Washington State. They also buried the unsightly reminders of Thursday, when they missed their first 11 shots in a tedious win over Oregon State.

Williams had the most to bury. He scored just four points on 2-for-12 shooting against the Beavers. But he was 10 for 14 against Oregon. He repeatedly made lofting, rainbow shots from the baseline over flatfooted Ducks.

The Huskies, national scoring leaders averaging 87.3 points per game coming in, cracked 70 for the first time in three games.

The return to normal became apparent immediately: The Huskies made their first three shots. Yet they trailed 20-16 midway through the first half, as Oregon initially succeeded in controlling the game with its new, deliberate, half-court style.

But then Williams made three straight jump shots to spark a 21-4 run that lasted until the final seconds before halftime. When he left the game halfway through the run, Romar excitedly slapped him on the backside and patted his back and head for turning the coach’s words into decisive action.

Washington 78, Oregon 59

Oregon (10-9, 4-3) – Hairston 6-18 4-4 17, Kent 1-2 0-2 2, Zahn 1-1 0-0 2, Brooks 2-12 0-1 4, Taylor 3-7 3-4 11, Leunen 0-0 0-0 0, Lincoln 5-6 1-1 12, Oguchi 2-5 0-0 5, Johnson 2-5 2-4 6, Schafer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 22-56 10-16 59.

Washington (16-2, 5-2) – Jones Jr. 6-11 0-0 15, Williams 10-14 0-0 20, Brockman 3-6 0-0 6, Roy 6-13 6-6 19, Dentmon 2-7 0-0 4, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Burmeister 1-1 0-0 3, Potter 0-1 0-0 0, Appleby 1-5 0-0 3, Wallace 0-0 0-0 0, Gasser 0-0 0-0 0, Jensen 4-6 0-0 8. Totals 33-64 6-6 78.

Halftime–Washington 39, Oregon 27. 3-point goals–Oregon 5-20 (Taylor 2-5, Lincoln 1-1, Oguchi 1-4, Hairston 1-5, Brooks 0-5), Washington 6-16 (Jones Jr. 3-5, Burmeister 1-1, Roy 1-2, Appleby 1-5, Jensen 0-1, Potter 0-1, Dentmon 0-1). Fouled out–None. Rebounds–Oregon 26 (Brooks, Hairston 6), Washington 42 (Brockman 10). Assists–Oregon 14 (Brooks 8), Washington 17 (Dentmon, Roy 6). Total fouls–Oregon 15, Washington 17. A—10,000.