Pondexter leads charge as Huskies run over Portland State

The Washington Huskies not only hosted the Athletes in Action Classic over the weekend, they owned it.

The Huskies capped a three-game sweep through the season-opening tournament with a 111-55 mauling of Portland State on Sunday at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

Washington also dominated the all-tournament team as Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter were named co-MVPs, and Matthew Bryan-Amaning was named to the team along with Wright State’s Todd Brown and Troy Tabler and Belmont’s Scott Saunders.

Pondexter capped the tournament with a game for the ages: a career-high 29 points and 13 rebounds while shooting 11-of-12 from the floor and seven-of-eight from the foul line – not that he cared.

“This is all a tribute to what my teammates help me do,” he said. “A lot of my baskets were assisted by my great guards. Our team played a heck of a game, it wasn’t just necessarily me.”

The closing rout was Washington’s biggest margin of victory since Nov. 13, 2006, when it beat Morgan State 118-51.

“I’m pleased with this performance tonight for a number of reasons,” coach Lorenzo Romar said. “Everyone who went into the game played with a high level of intensity. When the spread was so big, there was no let-up in our intensity. We were up 50 points and Scott Suggs dives on the floor for a loose ball. Those are the things that I’m pleased with tonight. Those are the things that suggest habits are forming.”

Washington went 3-0 over the three days, Wright State went 2-1, Belmont 1-2 and Portland State 0-3.

Portland State was led by forward Jamie Jones, who had 14 points and former Husky Phil Nelson, who had 13.

After three games in three nights, Washington is now off until Friday when San Jose State visits.

Don Ruiz, 253-597-8808

don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com