Sports - Local Colleges - Washington

POSTED: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009

Huskies in L.A. to take on Trojans

The 22nd-ranked Washington Huskies will try to hang onto their slim lead over the rest of the Pac-10 tonight, as they clash with the USC Trojans at the Galen Center.

The Huskies were in action on Thursday in one of their biggest games of the season, but they weren't up to the challenge, dropping an 85-76 decision at 20th-ranked UCLA. It was crucial loss by Washington, which now sits just a half-game ahead of UCLA, Arizona State and Cal for the top spot in the league standings at 10-4. Still, a win tonight would keep Washington in good position for the Pac-10 title, as its final three league games are at home, where the Huskies have gone a healthy 14-1 this season.

Speaking of success at home, the Trojans have gone an equally as good 13-1 at the Galen Center and that includes a 61-51 besting of Washington State on Thursday. USC, winners of five straight at home, snapped a three-game slide with the decision on Thursday and improved to 16-9 overall.

The Trojans hold a slight 65-64 edge in the head-to-head series with Washington, although the Huskies posted a 78-73 win in the first meeting of the season.

The Huskies were outscored from long range, 24-12, and at the foul line, 15-4, as they were downed by UCLA on Thursday. Those differences were the primary reasons for the loss, as Washington did well to hit on 50.0 percent of its attempts from the field. Justin Dentmon made all four of the team's three- pointers on his way to 22 points, while Jon Brockman recorded a double-double with 16 points and 14 rebounds in the losing effort. Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter also got into the mix, posting 12 points apiece. On the season, Thomas heads Washington in the scoring department at 16.3 ppg, but Dentmon is hot on his heels with 16.1 ppg behind an efficient 48.2 percent shooting from beyond the arc. Brockman averages a double-double with 15.0 ppg and a team-high 11.2 rpg, and Pondexter adds 11.2 ppg and 5.6 rpg to the lineup. The Huskies as a whole, are averaging an electric 80.2 ppg, while outrebounding their opponents by a sizeable 9.0 rpg.

The Trojans turned in a stout effort on defense this past Thursday, holding WSU to a sub par 36.5 percent shooting effort from the field, including a dismal 2-of-18 showing from long range, in a 61-51 triumph. USC also won the battle on the boards, 39-27, and sealed the win with a 17-of-22 performance at the foul line. Dwight Lewis headed the charge with 17 points, and Taj Gibson had 16 points and eight rebounds. On the season, Lewis tops the roster in scoring with 15.6 ppg and he is draining 40.2 percent of his three-point tries. Gibson almost averages a double-double with 14.0 ppg and a team-best 9.6 rpg, and he has also turned away 67 shots. DeMar DeRozan puts forth 12.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg, while Daniel Hackett chips in with 11.6 ppg. Overall, the Trojans have done well to limit foes to just 62.7 ppg and outrebound them by 5.9 rpg.