SEATTLE (Nov. 5) –
Rob Diederichs poured in a game-high 36 points but it wasn’t enough as the Washington Huskies pulled away late from Seattle Pacific University Monday night in exhibition action at Bank of America Arena.
Diederich, a 6-8 sophomore forward, gave the Huskies all they could handle, scoring in a variety of ways from a variety of angles for the Falcons. He scored 18 points in each half, finishing 15-23 from the floor including 2-8 from three-point range.
The Falcons led 66-65 with 7:46 remaining after a pair of free throws by
Casey Reed. However it was the last time the Falcons were in front as Jon Brockman took over for UW, hitting a free throw line jumper and back to back lay-ins to give the Huskies a lead they would never relinquish.
Diederichs kept the Falcons close and it wasn’t until Joel Smith hit a three with 42 seconds left to extend the Husky to 84-76 that the game was comfortably in hand for UW.
A back and forth first half saw the Huskies take a 39-34 lead into the locker room behind 8 points each from Brockman and Quincy Pondexter.
Both teams were still working out some preseason kinks as the Falcons committing 23 turnovers and the Huskies 22.
Two games and a day of travel in 72 hours seemed to catch up with the Falcons as they shot just 56 % from the free-throw line (18-32) and had numerous players beginning to experience leg cramps late in the game. UW went 16-19 from the line (84%).
“Our guys just hit a wall towards the end,” said Coach Jeff Hironaka. “We wanted to make them work for it tonight and we felt we did that. I think the Nevada game just two days ago finally caught up with us.”
Brandon Larrieu scored 13 points and totaled a team high 4 assists for SPU. Falcon center
Rob Will was held to just 5 points.
Brockman finished with 18 points and a game-high 8 rebounds for UW. Freshman Venoy Overton gave the Huskies a spark off the bench, scoring 16 points while also grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 4 assists.
SPU begins preseason play against Cal State Monterey Bay November 16th in the Sodexho Tip-Off Classic.