Huskies Take a Bite Out of the Ducks, 78-70

Malik Hairston added 20 points for Oregon.

Maarty Leunen scored 22 points, but Oregon fell just short Thursday at Washington. Photo courtesy: goducks.com

SEATTLE - Jon Brockman scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds while Ryan Appleby emerged from a deep funk to score a season-high 19 as Washington defeated Oregon 78-70 Thursday night for the Huskies' first Pac-10 win of the season.

Brockman had his conference-leading 11th double-double of the season for Washington (10-7, 1-3 Pac-10).

Maarty Leunen scored 22 points to go with his six rebounds for the Ducks (12-5, 3-2), who next play at No. 8 Washington State on Sunday.

Luenen overpowered Quincy Pondexter for a 3-point play with 3:12 left to pull Oregon to within 68-65, after it had trailed by 10 moments earlier. But Brockman tipped in his own miss and, after two free throws by Oregon's Malik Hairston, Appleby swished his fifth 3-pointer in 10 tries.

The Huskies have won six of their last eight games against the Ducks, who reached the round of eight in last spring's NCAA tournament and had won three consecutive conference games - including over ranked rivals Arizona and Stanford. Washington beat Oregon in Seattle for the seventh consecutive time dating to 2001, its longest such run since 1983-1989.

Hairston added 20 points for Oregon.

After the Huskies' consecutive losses spent banging into rugged UCLA, Southern California and Washington State, Washington enjoyed the freedom that Oregon's league-worst defense afforded.

Appleby had gone 2-for-15 shooting in his first three Pac-10 games but hit his first three shots, all from 3-point range. He then scored eight consecutive points - including a baseline runner and then two open 3-pointers that put Washington ahead 61-53 with 9:20 left. He finished 7-for-12 overall.

Brockman had been double-teamed for weeks. But Thursday, he thrived while singled up with 6-foot-6 guard Churchill Odia or Leunen.

Oregon, the team that shoots the most 3-pointers in the conference, made five of its first seven such shots. The Ducks made just five of their next 18 3-pointers and attempted a season-high 32.

Story by: The Associated Press

Courtesy: goducks.com

Adding comments to these stories has been disabled. View the current sports stories Salem-News Sports