Men's basketball: Portland downs UW, 80-74
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Robin Smeulders scored 20 points to lead Portland to a surprising 80-74 victory over Washington in the season opener for both teams.
Portland's win spoiled a big game for Washington's Jon Brockman, who scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds after a slow start.
Nik Raivio finished the game with 19 points for Portland, but 13 of those came in the first half.
The Huskies had just three players in double figures, including 15 by Justin Dentmon. Washington hurt its chances by hitting just three of 16 3-point shots.
The Huskies seemed to be in trouble almost from the beginning as they committed 11 turnovers and 16 fouls in the first half. During the early stages, they had a string of five consecutive turnovers, which helped Portland post a 15-7 lead.
The Huskies had yet to involve Brockman in their offense by the time Portland had opened up a 26-14 lead with 8:50 left in the first half. But he came alive shortly thereafter. The 6-foot-7 senior scored Washington's next 12 points as the Huskies cut Portland's lead to 33-26.
The Huskies came back to take a 34-33 lead behind 16 first-half points by Brockman, who hit five of his first seven shots. But the Pilots wound up with a 37-34 halftime lead after a pair of free throws by Smeulders and Ethan Niedermeyer, who finished the game with 14 points.
The Pilots seemed to be in control when Niedermeyer hit a 3-pointer to put Portland ahead 58-50 with 11 minutes left. But Washington came back with nine unanswered points, including a four-point play by Venoy Overton, to take a 59-58 lead.
Washington's lead was 66-60 after six points by Brockman and a free throw by Elston Turner. But it would be the Huskies' last lead of the night.
Portland took the lead for good when Smeulders hit a jump hook to give his team a 67-66 lead with 3:42 left. Later, the 6-10 German scored a pair of inside baskets as Portland pushed its advantage to 74-68 with 1:08 left.
Seconds later, Smeulders fouled out of the game when he was called for technical when he dove into a pile-up for a loose ball. His absence hardly mattered, though, as Raivio scored four points in the final 30 seconds to help seal his team's victory.
Portland's win spoiled a big game for Washington's Jon Brockman, who scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds after a slow start.
Nik Raivio finished the game with 19 points for Portland, but 13 of those came in the first half.
The Huskies had just three players in double figures, including 15 by Justin Dentmon. Washington hurt its chances by hitting just three of 16 3-point shots.
The Huskies seemed to be in trouble almost from the beginning as they committed 11 turnovers and 16 fouls in the first half. During the early stages, they had a string of five consecutive turnovers, which helped Portland post a 15-7 lead.
The Huskies had yet to involve Brockman in their offense by the time Portland had opened up a 26-14 lead with 8:50 left in the first half. But he came alive shortly thereafter. The 6-foot-7 senior scored Washington's next 12 points as the Huskies cut Portland's lead to 33-26.
The Huskies came back to take a 34-33 lead behind 16 first-half points by Brockman, who hit five of his first seven shots. But the Pilots wound up with a 37-34 halftime lead after a pair of free throws by Smeulders and Ethan Niedermeyer, who finished the game with 14 points.
The Pilots seemed to be in control when Niedermeyer hit a 3-pointer to put Portland ahead 58-50 with 11 minutes left. But Washington came back with nine unanswered points, including a four-point play by Venoy Overton, to take a 59-58 lead.
Washington's lead was 66-60 after six points by Brockman and a free throw by Elston Turner. But it would be the Huskies' last lead of the night.
Portland took the lead for good when Smeulders hit a jump hook to give his team a 67-66 lead with 3:42 left. Later, the 6-10 German scored a pair of inside baskets as Portland pushed its advantage to 74-68 with 1:08 left.
Seconds later, Smeulders fouled out of the game when he was called for technical when he dove into a pile-up for a loose ball. His absence hardly mattered, though, as Raivio scored four points in the final 30 seconds to help seal his team's victory.