No. 14 Washington handles Belmont
SEATTLE — Matthew Bryan-Amaning dominated inside matching his career-high 23 points, Quincy Pondexter also matched his career best with 25 points including an off-the-backboard pass to himself, and No. 14 Washington ran away from Belmont for a 96-78 win on Saturday night.
Inconsistent for much of his freshman and sophomore seasons, the Huskies can only hope that this performance is a sign of growth from Bryan-Amaning. He did it all against the Bruins: dunks, drop-step jumpers, up-and-under moves, and even some blocked shots.
Bryan-Amaning made 11 of 14 shots and added seven rebounds. His previous career high was 23 points against Portland State last season, the only other game in his career he's reached 20 points. Isaiah Thomas added an efficient 23 for Washington (2-0) in its second game of the round-robin Athletes In Action Classic.
Scott Sanders led Belmont (1-1) with 18 points.
While the Huskies expect to get 20-point nights regularly from Thomas and Pondexter, it's a welcome surprise when Bryan-Amaning gets that many. As a sophomore, Bryan-Amaning only reached double figures seven times and just three times as a freshman.
But he dunked for Washington's first points, scored six of the Huskies first 12 and had eight by halftime. Then Bryan-Amaning scored eight of Washington's first 10 points of the second half as a 49-39 halftime advantage quickly morphed into a 20-point lead.
About the only thing Bryan-Amaning did wrong was owning one of Washington's four missed free throws (25 of 29).
As Bryan-Amaning continued to control the interior, the Huskies used an 18-6 spurt early in the second half to fully take control, a stretch that included Pondexter improvising his way to another highlight moment in his Washington career.
After Scott Suggs intercepted a crosscourt Belmont pass, he quickly threw ahead to Pondexter breaking early. As Pondexter drove Belmont's Kerron Johnson flashed in front of him near the free throw line, causing Pondexter to leave his feet early. With no teammates open, Pondexter threw a pass to himself, banking it off the backboard then gently laying in the carom.
It didn't count as an assist, but the Huskies' lone senior again did a little bit of everything. He hit 7 of 12 shots, all 11 of his free throws and grabbed 11 rebounds. The 5-foot-8 Thomas grabbed seven rebounds to go with his four 3-pointers as Washington held a 48-24 advantage on the boards.
Thanks to Bryan-Amaning, Washington jumped to an early 10-point lead before the Bruins slowly chipped away. Belmont eventually pulled even at 34-all on a jumper by Sanders with 5:08 left in the half.
Then Washington took back control just before halftime. A jumper by Pondexter was followed by a three-point play by Tyreese Breshers, who left the game earlier after injuring his right hand. Abdul Gaddy floated a 10-foot runner and Thomas capped a swift 11-point spurt with a four-point play, swishing a 3 as Kerron Johnson clipped Thomas' foot as he flew past on the shot release.
Ian Clark added 14 for the Bruins, who shot 51 percent.










TIM BOOTH | November 15, 2009 12:17 AM EST |