TIM BOOTH, AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE (AP) — David Crisp hit four 3-pointers and finished with 18 points, Dominic Green added six 3s and 18 points off the bench as Washington pulled away in the second half to beat travel-weary Bethune-Cookman 106-55 on Tuesday night.
Washington (9-3) matched its entire win total from the 2016-17 season before the end of the non-conference schedule and for a change the Huskies put away an opponent. Four of Washington’s first eight wins had come by seven points or less, including last Sunday’s 80-77 win over Loyola Marymount.
The Huskies blitzed the Wildcats with a huge second-half as the fatigue of two days of travel issues finally caught up with Bethune-Cookman. The second half became a stream of turnovers by the Wildcats and easy baskets for the Huskies. Washington outscored the Wildcats 63-19 in the second half as Bethune-Cookman committed 17 turnovers and shot 20 percent.
Jaylen Nowell added 15 points and Nahaziah Carter had 11 off the bench for the Huskies.
Isaiah Bailey led Bethune-Cookman (5-8) with 16 points and Brandon Tabb added 11. The Wildcats had major travel troubles getting to Seattle due to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport being crippled by a power outage on Sunday. The majority of Bethune-Cookman’s roster spent most of Tuesday traveling, starting the day in Nashville, with a connection in Denver and finally arriving in Seattle less than four hours before tip. Bethune-Cookman’s traveling party was supposed to all arrive in Seattle on Sunday.
The Wildcats looked lethargic early, falling behind by 13 in the opening 11 minutes before a flurry of 3-pointers provided a jolt. The Wildcats went on a 25-13 scoring spurt to pull within 35-34 on Soufiyane Diakite’s driving basket with 3 minutes left in the half. Washington had one more surge to close the half and took a 43-36 lead at the break.
It proved to be the one time the Wildcats would threaten. Fatigue and sloppiness took over in the second half and Washington ran away.
BIG PICTURE
Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats will be hoping for less travel trouble getting to Pullman, Washington, for their matchup Friday with Washington State. Bethune-Cookman is scheduled to bus the five hours to Pullman.
Washington: While it came in a blowout, Green’s six 3-pointers off the bench could be big if he can replicate that shooting against others. Green has struggled with consistency shooting from the perimeter.
TRAVEL TROUBLE
The Wildcats nearly avoided their travel nightmare. Their flight was minutes from pulling away from the gate in Atlanta when the power outage struck. The team eventually was booked on standby flights on Monday, but only a small number of staff and two players made it to Seattle. The rest got as far as Nashville, before taking two flights — with another delay in Denver — to reach the Pacific Northwest.
UP NEXT
Bethune-Cookman: The Wildcats are at Washington State on Friday.
Washington: The Huskies host Montana on Friday.
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