Brockman sends Washington past Cleveland State

Brockman sends Washington past Cleveland State

Cleveland State forward J'Nathan Bullock tries to shoot over the defense of Washington forward Jon Brockman in the first half of a NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008, at Hec Edmondson Pavilion in Seattle.

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Story Published: Nov 18, 2008 at 10:31 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 5:58 AM PDT

By By GREGG BELL AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) - Jon Brockman had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Washington past Cleveland State 78-63 in the Huskies' home opener on Tuesday night.

Quincy Pondexter added 15 points for Washington (1-1), which bounced back from an embarrassing loss at Portland on Saturday when Pondexter didn't even score.

Norris Cole scored 20 points for Cleveland State (1-1), which missed 18 of its first 21 shots and fell behind by 24 points late in the first half.

But the Vikings, the preseason favorites to win the Horizon League, made nine of their first 11 shots after halftime and got within 56-53 with just under 11 minutes left on two free throws by D'Aundray Brown.

Brockman then restored order for the Huskies by dominating inside.

The rugged senior, who has 53 points and 27 rebounds in two games, didn't score and took just one shot during Cleveland State's run to within three points. But he deftly restored Huskies' order by falling hard to draw a foul away from the ball on bewildered Viking Renard Fields as freshman Isaiah Thomas was making his first shot in eight attempts, from 3-point range. Brockman made the ensuing two free throws for the rare, 5-point play to put Washington suddenly back up 63-53.

He then bulled for six more points inside, the last two on a put-back of a missed 3-pointer by Thomas, and Washington was cruising again 73-58 with 4:17 left.

Brockman provided the comedy to the laughable first half, which ended with Washington cruising 48-26. He soared down the lane with his right arm extended for an uncharacteristically flashy dunk, but the ball clanged hard and far off the back rim.

Red-faced as his teammates chased down the long rebound, the bruising forward went back to his usual, blue-collar work, muscling on the low blocks for a 3-point play.

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