PORTLAND – Choose any of the following adjectives – overanxious, quick-triggered, careless – and you will have described much of the Washington Huskies’ season debut Saturday night.
Against NCAA Division II exhibition foe Western Washington, the Huskies still might have gotten away with a victory.
But not at the University of Portland.
The Pilots grabbed this one early, held on for dear life on a few occasions, and in the end held on for an 80-74 nonconference victory over the Huskies in front of 2,617 at the Chiles Center.
All five Portland starters scored in double figures, led by Robin Smeulders’ 20 points.
Jon Brockman countered with 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Huskies, but by the end of a frantic and physical game, he was about the only UW player who was scoring from the field. His 30 was one short of his career-high of 31, set last season against Utah.
Even though he was the one who led comebacks from double-digit deficits in each half – the last time a 49-39 Portland lead with 16:17 to go – all he could do was second-guess a few clunkers down the stretch, notably an ill-advised, game-tying 3-point attempt with 32 seconds to go.
“I took some bad shots,” Brockman said. “That is what not playing the same way every single possession does for you.”
It was UW’s first season-opening defeat since a 56-53 loss to Montana State in 2003.
Of all the mishaps – and plenty were on coach Lorenzo Romar’s mind after the game – the one that stuck with him was the 23 turnovers, which led the Pilots to 24 points.
“We all shared (the turnovers),” Romar said. “Most were unforced.”
Yet, Brockman’s putback gave the UW a 66-62 lead with 4:35 to go. Until late baskets by Justin Dentmon and Venoy Overton, he was the go-to guy on the floor, especially in the final 10 minutes, making five consecutive field goals for the Huskies.
Curtis High product Isaiah Thomas, who struggled in his first start with 10 points, fouled out at the 3:52 mark. On that same possession, Smeulders made a tough 8-footer over Joe Wolfinger, was fouled, then converted a three-point play for a 67-66 Portland lead.
Ethan Niedermeyer’s 3-pointer on the Pilots’ next trip increased it to 70-66, and they never relinquished the lead again.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442
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