SEATTLE (AP) -Transfer Tim Morris scored 16 points in his Washington debut as the Huskies started fast and finished faster to beat New Jersey Institute of Technology 88-47 Tuesday night in the first round of the NIT Season Tipoff tournament.
Jon Brockman and Joel Smith each had 12 points while Quincy Pondexter and Adrian Oliver added 11 for the debuting Huskies, who will play Utah in the second round on Wednesday. The winner of that game will advance to the semifinals in New York Nov. 21.
Utah beat High Point 77-64 in the evening’s first game.
Brockman, a rugged All Pac-10 player last season and Washington’s team leader, simply overpowered the Highlanders during the decisive first half. He banged opponents out of his way while scoring 10 points and grabbing six of his nine rebounds early.
Justin Garris scored 10 points for NJIT, which has started its second season in Division I with two brutal losses. Saturday, the Highlanders from Newark lost to Manhattan 70-28.
NJIT committed 29 turnovers – 11 in the game’s first 9 1/2 minutes after Washington took a 17-3 lead. The Highlanders’ high point: Garris made a 3-pointer 1:08 into the game to put them ahead 3-2.
They never led again.
Washington scored the next 15 points, with 3-pointers by Justin Dentmon, Smith and Oliver preceding consecutive layups off steals by Morris, who sat out last season after arriving from Stanford.
Washington should have led by far more than 45-24 at the half, but went just 5-for-13 on free throws in the opening period. Even the Huskies’ classmates were miffed with that. When Pondexter finally made a free throw after Washington missed six consecutive freebies to begin the game, the home student section roared a mock cheer.
Washington was 5-for-8 on free throws after halftime, when Washington’s lead grew to 82-37 with 3 minutes left on three consecutive baskets by Morris, including a soaring dunk.
Many of NJIT’s turnovers were on reckless charges and passes to nobody except Washington’s coaches on the bench. The worst came when Jheryl Wilson threw a pass intended for Courcy Magnus on the wing. It hit the back of a game official instead and caromed out of bounds.
The Highlanders had former Syracuse star Wendell Alexis coaching them on an interim basis for the first time. Head coach Jim Casciano began a leave of absence for health reasons Sunday.
NJIT will play High Point in a consolation game Wednesday.
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