Pac 10 tournament: Washington’s hot shooting leads to hafltime lead
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Washington is pushing to take the postseason decision out of the NCAA selection committee’s hands.
The Huskies shot 56% in scratching out a 41-37 halftime lead over California in the Pacific Life Pacific 10 tournament championship game Saturday at Staples Center.
Quincy Pondexter had 12 points and Isaiah Thomas nine for Washington, which may need to win the conference’s automatic bid to get into the NCAA tournament. The Huskies, whose only quality nonconference victory was over Texas A&M (currently ranked No. 23), were believed to be a bubble team heading into Saturday.
Neither team could claim much advantage in a half that was played at a frantic pace. There were 16 lead changes, and the Huskies’ four-point halftime margin was the largest by either team.
Washington had the edge in shooting, making eight of its first 12 shots.
Theo Robertson had 16 points to lead California, the conference’s regular-season champion. The Bears are expected to receive an at-large bid if they do not win the Pac-10 tournament.
--Chris Foster
Twitter.com/cfosterlatimes