Huskies pound Pacific

SEATTLE – While Washington’s success this season revolves around senior forward Jon Brockman, his teammates understand there will be times when he can’t carry the load.

Quincy Pondexter recognized that Saturday was one of those times when he needed to share the burden. The 6-foot-6 junior forward stepped up against Pacific, nullifying the Tigers’ double team on Brockman with his third career double-double as the Huskies (3-3) rolled in the second half for a 72-54 victory.

Pondexter had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Justin Dentmon added 15 points.

Brockman, who entered the game with a team-leading 18 points and 12.6 rebounds per game, was held to 13 points and six rebounds against Pacific’s sagging zone.

Terrell Smith led a balanced Pacific (2-2) attack with 12 points. Nine players scored for the Tigers.

“You need somebody to do that on this team,” said Pondexter, who had been averaging 6.4 points and 5.6 rebounds through the team’s first five games. “When you see a great player like that have so much focus on him, it opens up things for us.”

Pondexter “played as solid an all-around game as he’s played since he’s been here,” coach Lorenzo Romar said. “He rebounded, he took good shots, he played within himself.

“I think sometimes he’s really hard on himself. Sometimes he’s his own worst critic and sometimes he over-thinks.”