Seattle University succumbs early to UW

Undermanned figuratively from the minute the ball went up, the Seattle University Redhawks ended their game against the Washington Huskies in fitting fashion — with just four players on the floor.

After Alex Jones fouled out with 1:27 remaining, that was all the Redhawks had left to close out a 123-76 loss to the Huskies.

"It was kind of funny, actually," said Seattle U. guard Cervante Burrell, one of the four on the floor. "As bad as we were losing, I feel that was the highlight of the game."

It was surprisingly that kind of night for the Redhawks, who entered Hec Ed with high hopes, carrying the confidence of a 51-point win at Oregon State earlier this month, and vowing to redeem an 87-60 loss to UW here last March.

Instead, it was 18-0 Huskies before five minutes were done, and the game was all but over.

"It's tough, real tough, coming into this environment," said Seattle U. forward Charles Garcia, who made his first appearance in the arena he figured might be his home. He signed with the Huskies last year, only to be denied admission for academic reasons, and then became a Redhawk.

"When we went to Oregon State, it was like we were prepared for that game," he said. "Coming in here, we were just real hyped, and we didn't let the game come to us."

Garcia led the Redhawks with 20 points but didn't make his first field goal until only 2:29 was left in the first half.

"We kind of were in awe a little bit," said Seattle U. coach Cameron Dollar after his team fell to 9-12. "We let them get out and get some runouts early, and you obviously can't do that here because that's obviously easy buckets and puts you in a world of hurt."

UW led 61-20 at halftime. Dollar, though, thought his team could make a run and came up with a somewhat unconventional strategy, telling his players to foul and get the Huskies — who have struggled at the line at times this year — to shoot free throws.

"It was less of getting physical and more of trying to get them into the bonus early and put them at the line and try to see if they could miss some free throws and then we could get out," he said. "They actually did miss some free throws, but we still couldn't score on the other end."

The Redhawks committed 45 fouls, 14 more than in any other game this season, with six players fouling out.

It was by far Seattle U.'s worst loss of the season — the previous largest margin of defeat was 86-64 in the opener at Oklahoma State in November. Dollar, however, said he wouldn't even bother showing the film to his players, hoping to put it in the past as quickly as possible.

"I felt my kids, from beginning to end, they tried hard, did what I asked them to do," he said. "It was just a matter of them running into a pretty good buzz saw."

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com