Huskies outhustle LSU, 88-72

So this is what all the hype was about.

This is why Spencer Hawes has been called maybe the best recruit in Washington history, and this team regarded as one that could legitimately make a Final Four run.

After a beginning to the season filled with fits and starts, it all came together for both Hawes and the Huskies on Wednesday. Washington led for all of the final 38 minutes in beating Louisiana State — a Final Four participant a year ago — 88-72 in front of 10,000 spectators at Edmundson Pavilion.

LSU, rated No. 12 in The Associated Press poll this week, was the highest-ranked non-conference foe other than Gonzaga to play the Huskies in Seattle since New Mexico in 1998. The Lobos were rated No. 11.

Hawes hit his career highs in both points (23) and rebounds (12), surpassing both of his previous bests with 11 minutes left in the game. His previous highs were 21 and nine.

Hawes made 10 of 16 shots from the field in outplaying LSU junior forward Glen "Big Baby" Davis hit just one of his first nine shots and didn't make his second field goal until 7:57 left in the game. At that point, the Huskies had a 23-point lead. Davis finished with eight points and nine rebounds.

The Huskies are 9-1 and finally looked like a team worthy of their lofty ranking (No. 17 this week), giving evidence to their assertion that the blowout defeat at Gonzaga 11 days ago was more a case of stage fright than incompetence. LSU, which won at Oregon State 60-53 Sunday, fell to 6-3.

Hawes, however, was far from a one-man show, joined much of the night in impressive displays by sophomore forward Jon Brockman, who had one of his best games with 19 points and 14 rebounds. It was the fourth time in the past five games he hit double figures in rebounding and the 14 ties his career-high.

Hawes and Brockman combined to score UW's first 13 points as the Huskies busted to a 13-6 lead and never looked back. UW led 50-36 at halftime, built the lead to 75-53 with 10 minutes left, and cruised from there.

The Huskies played their best first half of the season in leading by double digits from the 12:37 mark on.

Hawes surely made a heady impression on NBA scouts as he dominated action in the first half, hitting 6 of 8 shots and grabbing seven rebounds, just two off his career high of nine. He also blocked a shot by Davis in the opening seconds of the game.

Hawes' field goals came in a variety of ways — jump hooks, a turn-around bank shot from 15 feet and baseline drives for layins. As the first half progressed, LSU began double-teaming him and Hawes then displayed his passing ability, at one point hitting a cutting Hans Gasser for a layin that turned into a three-point play.

Hawes then moved his game outside to begin the second half, hitting three consecutive jumpers from an increasing distance to give him 20 points with 17 minutes still to play. After he hit the last one from just inside the three-point line, he held an animated conversation with LSU's Magnum Rolle as he backpedaled down the court.

Brockman, meanwhile, looked as aggressive as he ever has. His first basket came when he made a decisive baseline move and was fouled, turning it into a three-point play. Then he crashed the boards hard to score three consecutive baskets on tip-ins or putbacks.

Davis, the SEC player of the year last season, entered the game as the star attraction.

UW's student section, the Dawg Pack, had a lot more fun with Davis, however, than Davis had with the Huskies. Many mocked his often-fluctuating weight by wearing Burger King hats. And the entire section yelled names of fast-food restaurants when he attempted free throws.

Davis had just four points in the first half in 18 minutes, hitting 1 of 6 shots as the Huskies often sent waves of defenders at him — four on one occasion — though Brockman and Hawes had the primary duty.

LSU might have been completely out of it by halftime had not Terry Martin, a transfer from Texas Tech playing his first game for LSU since becoming eligible this week, came off the bench to score seven points in the first half.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com. Read his blogs on Washington football and basketball at www.seattletimes.com/huskies.