UW controls destiny in title race

The Pac-10 regular season title race was already in Washington’s control before Saturday arrived.

It’s even more so now.

Led by the starring foursome of Isaiah Thomas, Justin Dentmon, Quincy Pondexter and Jon Brockman, the Huskies built a 24-point halftime lead and ran over Oregon 103-84 on Saturday afternoon in Seattle, moving 1 1/2 games clear in the conference standings.

The foursome each topped the 20-point mark, led by Thomas’ 24 points. Dentmon finished with 21 points, same as Brockman, who also tied his career high with 18 rebounds. Pondexter added 20 points, the third time he’s scored 20 or more in Washington’s last four games.

“This is about to be a lot of fun. This is where champions come out and play,” Dentmon said of the Huskies’ remaining schedule that begins next week at UCLA and USC. “Once the light is on, we just have to come out and perform.”

About the only blemish on this day for Washington was an uninterested defensive effort in the second half, as Oregon’s shooters found their stroke from beyond the 3-point line. Diminutive guard Tajuan Porter hit six 3-pointers and scored 27 of his season-high 33 points in the second half.

But the second-half lull might be a benefit for Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar, who can spend this week preaching focus to his players as they head to Los Angeles for a pair of games that can either re-ignite the conference race or put it out of reach.

“I think guys will realize how big a deal this is,” Brockman said.

Despite Oregon’s frantic second half rally, the Ducks couldn’t chip far enough into Washington’s lead to create any worry in the Huskies. Washington’s first half was so dominant, Ducks coach Ernie Kent decided the best way to inspire his players was to leave them alone in the locker room at halftime for 10 minutes.

It worked to a certain extent. The Ducks scored 59 points in the second half – the most scored in a half this season for the Ducks – but still could never get closer than 14 points on Garrett Sim’s 3-pointer with 5:48 left.

The Huskies kept the Ducks at a distance thanks to the second-half performances of Brockman and Pondexter. Brockman had 16 points and 13 rebounds in the second half and Pondexter added 12 points.

Arizona 84, (11) UCLA 72: At Tucson, Ariz., Nic Wise scored 26 points and Jordan Hill had 22 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Wildcats past the Bruins for their seventh straight win.

Arizona broke an eight-game losing streak against Bruins, who were swept in the desert for the first time since 2005. UCLA, which lost at Arizona State on Thursday, has dropped two in a row for the first time this season.

The Bruins gave up a season-worst 49 points in the first half, falling behind by 18 at the break and trailing by as many as 25 in the second half.

California 82, Stanford 75: At Berkeley, Calif., Patrick Christopher scored 21 points, Jerome Randle added 18 points and eight assists and the Golden Bears rallied to beat the Cardinal.

Jorge Gutierrez had 10 points and eight rebounds and made a key shot with 1:37 remaining to help complete the comeback for the Golden Bears on a day they celebrated their 100th anniversary of men’s basketball.

The Bears trailed by 22 in the first half and were down by 14 at halftime before opening the second half with a 16-3 run to get back into the game.