In New Roles, Harris, Diallo Step Up and Lead Huskies Past Alcorn State

Coach Danny Sprinkle uses three new starters and gets inspiring performances.

Tyler Harris looks for a shot against Alcorn State. / Dan Raley

Alcorn State was maybe the best of the three winless basketball teams the University of Washington has faced so far, which meant the Huskies didn't have to be great on Friday night at Alaska Airlines Arena, just better than before.

For certain, they were different.

With new coach Danny Sprinkle promising a lineup shake-up, freshman guard Zoom Diallo and Rhode Island transfer and senior guard Luis Kortright started for the first time, while Portland transfer and sophomore forward Tyler Harris drew his second opening assignment.

The changes brought an uptick in team energy, certainly better ball movement, but the Huskies still couldn't shake the visiting Braves until midway through the second half before they pulled away for a 77-60 victory in front of another half-full arena.

That said, Harris was sensational and Diallo wasn't far behind, with the two of them combining for 42 points to lead the Huskies (4-1) in scoring and past Alcorn State (0-6).

Harris, a 6-foot-8 forward from Hayward, California, went for a career-best 27 points produced anywhere for him on the college level, surpassing his Portland high-water mark by five. He dropped in 8 of 11 shots, including 3 of 5 from behind the 3-point line, hit all 8 of his free throws and grabbed 8 rebounds.

"After the first 3, I felt good after that," the soft-spoken Harris said. "I was thanking my teammates for keep passing me the ball and just watching for me."

Diallo went for a career-high15 points, three more than his previous best in his brief college career. The 6-foot-4 Tacoma native connected on 5 of 10 shots, 5 of 6 foul shots and handed out 3 assists.

"It feels good, I'm not going to lie, to get that first start," the young guard said of his landmark moment.

With Alcorn State limiting usual UW leading scorer Great Osobor to just 8 points and 4 shots, often surrounding him with multiple playrs, which is what others will surely do, somebody had to step up.

It was the last warm-up game for Sprinkle's guys who face only hard-nosed opponents going forward, beginning with Colorado State (3-1) in the Acriscure Invitational on Thanksgiving Day in Palm Springs. They follow that outing with a game against TCU or Santa Clara in the tourney, then Big Ten games against UCLA on the road and USC at home.

"This was just one night," Sprinkle said. "I started guys who have been playing well in practice and in games. Luis Kortright, I thought his energy the last week was the best on the team and that's why he started."

These Huskies remain a work in progress. Typical of their play, Diallo brought the ball up in the middle of the first half and got it moving around the perimeter, pass after pass, maybe a dozen of them or more, before it ended up in Osobor's hands inside. The big man went up for a dunk, hit the rim and the ball went out of bounds for a turnover.

"The place would have went crazy if he dunked it and we would have some momentum and who knows where the game goes," Sprinkle said of an opportunity missed.

His guys twice fell behind by five, at 27-22 and 29-24, before finishing the half on top 36-34 on Mekhi Mason's tip at the buzzer.

The close of the first half was delayed several minutes when someone needed medical attention and was wheeled out of the arena on a stretcher with 2:43 left.

After the break, the UW went up 47-40, on Diallo's three-point play that began with a put-back, and Harris' three-point play that started with a shot inside.

However, Alcorn State came back with a 7-0 run to tie the game and keep things interesting a little longer.

Osobor finally put the Huskies on top for good by hitting one of two foul shots for a 48-47 advantage and Diallo followed with another three-point play, fouled when driving to the basket.

With 9:25 remaining, the Huskies went up by 10 for the first time, at 60-50, when Diallo dropped in a pair of free throws and it was no contest thereafter.

Sprinkle, while pleased that Harris and Diallo stepped up, said no one should get too comfortable as the Huskies move forward.

"I want these guys to continue playing at that high level," the coach said. "Our starting lineup could change every single game."

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