Central Plains FFA Chapter

11/02 23:41 CST Nikola Dzepina and LeJuan Watts lead Washington to 90-76 win over Colgate Nikola Dzepina and LeJuan Watts lead Washington to 90-76 win over Colgate SEATTLE (AP) --- Nikola Dzepina scored a career-high 27 points, LeJuan Watts had 22 points, and Washington defeated Colgate 90-76 in a season-opener on Monday night. Dzepina, a sophomore who did not reach double digits in any game last season, made 10 of 17 shots and 6 of 7 free throws to go with seven rebounds. Watts, a transfer who has also played at Eastern Washington, Washington State and Texas Tech, attempted only six shots, making three. He made 14 of 16 free throws and the Huskies went 30 for 36 at the line. Andrew Alekseyenko had 25 points and 11 rebounds for Colgate. Parker Jones scored 17 and Sam Wright 15. Colgate led 33-28 with 4 minutes left in the first half before 3-pointers from Ryan Beasley and Wesley Yates III gave the Huskies a one-point lead. There were two more ties but Colgate did not lead again. Yates hit another 3-pointer for a 43-38 halftime lead. A 12-0 run in which Dzepina scored seven points gave the Huskies a 62-50 lead seven minutes into the second half and they led by at least 10 points for the remainder. The Huskies have had a .500 or less record in five of their last seven seasons and last played in a postseason tournament in 2019. The Raiders have five regular-season Patriot League championships and five NCAA tournament bids in the last nine seasons.

Up next Colgate: at Drexel on Saturday. Washington: vs. Mississippi Valley State next Monday. ____ Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP's full men's basketball coverage here