TEMPE, Ariz. — It didn’t matter where Justin Dentmon was standing on the court. Just about everything looked like a layup.
Dentmon hit four 3-pointers and scored a career-high 30 points, freshman Isaiah Thomas added 25 and No. 23 Washington handed No. 14 Arizona State its second straight home defeat, 84-71 on Saturday.
Dentmon’s scoring outburst came after he made seven of 12 3-pointers and scored 23 points in the Huskies’ 106-97 loss at Arizona on Thursday.
“It feels like every shot I shoot is going in,” Dentmon said. “My confidence is high.”
Washington (16-5, 7-2 Pac-10) led by 19 points twice in the second half before Arizona State got within 74-68 when Derek Glasser made three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt with 1:58 remaining.
Thomas made two free throws on each of the next two possessions, and the Huskies made eight straight free throws over the final 1:56.
“Great gut-check win for our guys,” said Washington coach Lorenzo Romar, whose team is tied with UCLA for the conference lead. “Justin Dentmon is playing like a senior should.”
Jeff Pendergraph had 21 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for Arizona State (16-5, 5-4), his sixth double-double of the season. James Harden of the Sun Devils, who entered as the Pac-10’s leading scorer with a 22.2 average, had 15 points.
“Jeff stood up and gave us a great performance,” Arizona State coach Herb Sendek said.
Harden, defended by an aggressive double-team when he worked off high screens, made only four field goals. He did not make his first until 3:22 remained in the first half and had only five points at halftime on 1-of-2 shooting.
“All eyes were on him,” Dentmon said of the Huskies’ defensive strategy, which included aggressive double-teams when Harden tried to work off high screens.
“They did a good job of team defense, but it was more ASU, what we did,” Harden said.
Washington led 41-29 at halftime, the most points Arizona State had given up in a first half this season.
ASU committed nine of its 11 turnovers in the first half after committing only eight, nine and six in its three previous games.
Dentmon and Thomas combined to go 15-of-26 from the field and 20-of-26 from the line. Dentmon was 10-of-11 from the foul line.
“I thought the two Washington guards really controlled the game,” Sendek said. “We didn’t have a good answer for them, both off the bounce and behind the arc. Those guys really had us tied up.”
Washington shot 52 percent from the field while limiting ASU to 41 percent.
ASU had not lost two straight home games since losing to the Washington schools here last season. Washington State beat the Sun Devils 66-56 on Thursday.
Washington center Jon Brockman had 10 points, and his 5-footer in the lane gave Washington its biggest lead, 54-35, with 15:25 remaining.
ASU went on a 9-1 run fueled by seven points from sophomore guard Jamelle McMillan, who made two driving layups and a 3-pointer from the left baseline.
Glasser had 11 points, although he shot only 2-of-14 from the field. Arizona State’s Rihards Kuksiks had 10 points.
“Basketball is about putting the ball in the basket, and for the last several weeks that has been our albatross,” Sendek said.
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