Before the UW basketball team’s game against Southern Utah last night, the big concern for coach Lorenzo Romar was his opponent’s ability to shoot the three. Instead, it was Washington that attacked with a barrage of its own.

Led by Ryan Appleby, the Huskies hit 8-of-19 three-pointers en route to an 87-72 victory over SUU.

At an early point in the game, Washington was down four, struggling to score and hold on to the ball. Then Appleby and freshman Phil Nelson came off the bench. They helped pull the team back and gave them a lead that would last the rest of the game.

“Ryan Appleby was tremendous tonight,” Romar said. “He got us going. When he shoots the ball like that you don’t think he is ever going to miss, like ever. Phil Nelson came off the bench and did a good job for us in the first half also.”

Appleby made 6-of-8 from long range and finished with a game-high 24 total points. He did most of his damage in the first half, with 21, which led to a relatively quiet second.

“In the second half, the guy stood there and hugged me,” he said. “It was OK though. We got a lot of open shots and a lot of penetration. If they want to face guard me and not help and let our other guys get lay ins that’s fine with me.”

The same was the case for Nelson, who scored all 10 of his points before the half.

With Nelson and Appleby draining threes, the Thunderbirds extended their defense in an effort to stop the sharp shooters, and force the ball inside.

When that happened, center Spencer Hawes picked up his offensive game in a big way. Bogged down with two fouls in the first two and a half minutes, Hawes was only able to score six points in seven minutes of play.

In the second half, though, Hawes put on a clinic in the low post, scoring 15 second-half points setting a career high, with 21.

“I think getting more into the flow of the game and getting to know our opponents helped a lot,” he said. “It takes a little longer for big guys to get into the game.”

When Hawes did get into his rhythm, though, he simply abused the Thunderbird defenders trying to guard the 7-foot freshman.

“I guess [Hawes] didn’t get in enough foul trouble,” said Southern Utah coach Bill Evans. “He really hurt us in the second half. We let Appleby go off in the first half and then Hawes in the second.”

Lost in the mix was the play of Justin Dentmon.

“I thought Justin Dentmon — on both ends of the court — was huge,” Romar said. “He controlled us offensively, made great post feeds and played great defense. The job he did on [Steve] Barnes was second to none.”

He recorded a double-double for Washington, scoring 11 points and setting a new career-high in assists with 11.

At the end of the game, the sophomore gave the home crowd a scare when he went down awkwardly after attempting a lay-up. After the contest, though, Romar explained that it was just a cramp and nothing more severe.

Minus that small mishap, the coach was happy with his team’s play, saying that it was the best 40-minute effort his players had put together all season.

Reporter Justin Chartrey: justinchartrey@thedaily.washington.edu