Huskies handle Long Beach
Wilcox leads charge over the 49ers
SEATTLE – C.J. Wilcox made six 3-pointers and scored a career-high 20 points, leading seven Washington players in double figures, and the 23rd-ranked Huskies topped 100 points for the third time this season in a 102-75 win over Long Beach State on Tuesday night.
After losing to two Top 10 teams in the Maui Invitational, the Huskies (4-2) barely held on to their Top 25 ranking. But they rebounded from the consecutive defeats by beating up on the 49ers.
Wilcox, a redshirt freshman, made 6 of 8 3-point attempts. Isaiah Thomas added 19 points, despite missing all six of his 3-point attempts, and Abdul Gaddy and Matthew Bryan-Amaning both added 14 points.
Casper Ware led Long Beach State (3-4) with 18 points and T.J. Robinson had 15.
Washington responded well from the disappointment of falling to No. 10 Kentucky and No. 6 Michigan State and did so with a new look to its starting lineup. Washington went with 7-footer Aziz N’Diaye in place of Bryan-Amaning and the move seemed to energize the Huskies, who hit five of their first six shots and jumped to a 10-2 lead.
Bryan-Amaning responded well to the benching, scoring 10 of his 14 points in the first half and making all seven of his shots. While Thomas’ shooting was off, the diminutive guard added six rebounds and six assists.
The game was a reunion of sorts for Long Beach State coach Dan Monson. Eight years ago, Monson was offered the Washington job by then-athletic director Barbara Hedges. And for a few hours, the one-time Gonzaga coach was the leader of the Huskies, only to decide he wanted to stay at Minnesota and try to finish his rebuilding project there.
Beginning with Long Beach State, the Huskies play five of their final six nonconference games at home before opening Pac-10 play on Dec. 29 at USC. Washington’s lone road game in the stretch is Dec. 11 at Texas A&M.
(23) UW 102, LBSU 75
Long Beach State (3-4)—Phelps 5-9 1-1 11, Robinson 6-12 2-6 15, Plater 4-14 1-2 13, Anderson 2-5 1-2 5, Ware 4-10 7-10 18, Wilson 3-6 3-4 9, Chang 1-1 0-0 2, Jackson 0-2 0-0 0, Vantrimpont 0-0 0-0 0, Starkey 0-0 0-0 0, King 0-0 0-0 0, Richardson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-61 15-25 75.
Washington (4-2)—Holiday 5-7 0-0 11, Gant 4-8 0-0 10, N’Diaye 0-1 1-2 1, Gaddy 7-9 0-0 17, Thomas 8-17 3-6 19, Overton 3-5 2-2 10, Bryan-Amaning 7-7 0-0 14, Wilcox 7-9 0-0 20, Ross 0-4 0-0 0, Sherrer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-67 6-10 102.
Halftime—Washington 44-28. 3-Point Goals—Long Beach St. 8-19 (Plater 4-11, Ware 3-4, Robinson 1-2, Anderson 0-2), Washington 14-26 (Wilcox 6-8, Gaddy 3-3, Gant 2-2, Overton 2-4, Holiday 1-1, Ross 0-2, Thomas 0-6). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Long Beach St. 30 (Robinson 10), Washington 36 (Ross, Thomas 6). Assists—Long Beach St. 14 (Ware 5), Washington 24 (Overton 8). Total Fouls—Long Beach St. 14, Washington 22. A—9,223.