National Basketball Association

Huskies beat Spartans 78-56 in Wooden opener

Published Nov. 28, 2014 1:22 a.m. ET

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FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) Donaven Dorsey scored 17 points and Robert Upshaw tied his own school record with seven blocked shots, powering Washington to a 78-56 rout of San Jose State on Thursday night in the opening round of the Wooden Legacy tournament.

It was the third time in four games that the 6-foot-11 Upshaw had at least seven blocks. He didn't have any in the Huskies' previous game, a 76-69 win over Pacific at Key Arena on Sunday. Nigel Williams-Goss finished with 13 points, eight assists and six rebounds.

Washington (4-0) built a 40-23 halftime lead, shooting 53.8 percent from the field while holding San Jose State to 28.1 percent (9 for 32).

Rashad Muhammad scored 15 to lead the Spartans (1-4) who shot 31 percent from the field. San Jose State also played at Cal State Fullerton's Titan Gym in its previous game, a 70-66 loss to Fullerton last Saturday.

Muhammad hit a jumper and a 3-pointer 23 seconds apart during an 8-0 spurt that reduced San Jose State's deficit to 26-18 with 4:52 left in the half. But the Huskies responded with a 14-2 run capped by a layup and two free throws by Shawn Kemp Jr., extending to 40-20 with 1:05 left before intermission.

San Jose State got as close as 47-34 on Muhammad's running jumper with 14:29 remaining, but the Spartans didn't made only one field goal until Jordan Baker's layup with 5:46 to go - after Washington blew the game open at 66-39.

TIP-INS

San Jose State: This is the school's ninth in-season tournament and first since last November's NIU Invitational, where the Spartans lost to Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Northern Illinois and James Madison. They won the 2011 Elgin Baylor Classic, however. ... The Spartans, who came in leading the Mountain West Conference in rebounding average at 40.8, were outrebounded 48-39. ... The Spartans missed their first six shots before Rashad Muhammad connected from 3-point range with 14:46 left in the half.

Washington: Shawn Kemp Jr.'s father didn't play in any college tournaments. He went straight from high school ball to the NBA, where he played for 14 seasons and was a six-time All-Star. ... Starting F Jernard Jarreau had two points during a foul-plagued 15 minutes - the third straight game in which he had four fouls. ... The Huskies came in averaging 11 turnovers, the fewest in the Pac-12 Conference. They had 14 in this one. ... The Huskies have won all three meetings with San Jose State. ... Nigel Williams-Goss hit his first 3-pointer of the season with 12:31 left in the first half after starting the season 0 for 9. Last season he shot 35.6 percent behind the arc (32 for 90). ... Washington guard Andrew Andrews went to the bench just 3:16 into the game after picking up his second foul and finished with four points in 19 minutes.

UP NEXT

San Jose State: Faces Western Michigan on Friday in the consolation semifinals of the Wooden Legacy.

Washington: Faces Long Beach State on Friday in the semifinals of the Wooden Legacy.