Nikola Dzepina scored 20 of his career-high 27 points in the second half as Washington defeated Colgate 90-76 in the season opener for both teams Monday night in Seattle.
LeJuan Watts had 22 points, making 14 of 16 free throws, Lathan Somerville added 11 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 8:14 remaining and Wesley Yates III scored 10 for the Huskies, who pulled away after leading 43-38 at the half.
Andrew Alekseyenko, the reigning Patriot League rookie of the year, led Colgate with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four assists. Parker Jones added 17 points and Sam Wright scored 15.
The Huskies shot 46.3% from the field (25-of-54), including 10-of-28 from 3-point range. Colgate shot 44.4% (28-of-63) and was 7-of-22 from distance. The Raiders were just 13-of-26 at the free-throw line while the Huskies were 30-of-36.
The Huskies had a 16-0 edge in fast-break points as the Raiders tried to control the tempo and settle into a half-court game.
Dzepina, who joined the Huskies in mid-December last season and averaged 2.6 points in 14 appearances off the bench, scored Washington’s first five points of the second half to increase the lead to 48-40.
The Raiders pulled within 52-50 on a stepback jumper by Jones with 15:37 remaining before Yates III made a 3-pointer to spark a 10-0 run, with Dzepina scoring the final seven points.
Washington took its largest lead at 71-55 with 8:46 left on a 3-pointer by Tayshawn Comer.
The Huskies built a 14-9 lead in the opening 4:11 before Colgate rallied to take a 33-28 edge on a second-chance Jones jumper in the lane with 4:16 remaining in the half. Washington went on a 10-2 run to regain the lead before Jones’ 3-pointer tied the score at 38-all. Yates connected from long range with 2 seconds left to close the half.
Jones scored 11 points for the Raiders in the first half, with Watts scoring 10 and Somerville nine for Washington.