The Huskies worked their way past San Jose State, 80-70, Friday night at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, and members of that UW freshman class were the leading scorers for both teams.
Senior Quincy Pondexter led Washington with 30 points and 15 rebounds – both career highs. And Adrian Oliver, who arrived on campus with Pondexter before transferring to San Jose State, led all scorers with 32 points.
Fourteenth-ranked Washington (4-0) couldn’t shake San Jose State (1-1) for most of the first half, but finally took control when Pondexter did.
Pondexter contemplated leaving Washington as a sophomore during Christmas break, soon after Oliver transferred.
The only senior on the defending Pac-10 champions took advantage of the back line of San Jose State’s zone defense to score Washington’s first 13 points of the second half.
On five consecutive plays, Pondexter soared past flat-footed defenders for baskets. The third was a thunderous, right-handed dunk from the baseline over meekly defending C.J. Webster. Webster got a face full of Pondexter yelling and then an ear full from Spartans coach George Nessman for not defending more aggressively.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
