Herald staff
SEATTLE – David Dixon ran up and down the court without getting winded, a giant step forward for the 6-foot-11 center on the University of Washington men’s basketball team.
Weighing 270 pounds, or more than 30 pounds less than he did a year ago, Dixon didn’t seem to tire at all as he scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help the Huskies post an 87-43 victory over Brisbane, Australia, in an exhibition game Friday night at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
Doug Wrenn, a graduate of O’Dea High School and a transfer from Connecticut, played his first game since the championship of the Big East Tournament in March of 2000 and showed why Washington is high on him, collecting 12 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes. “I was really nervous,” the 6-8 sophomore said.
Dixon is a key player if the Huskies are to improve upon their 10-20 record of a year ago. He’s the only true center they have and the only player on the team taller than 6-9.
He shed the weight not by watching what he ate, but by playing basketball all summer rather than taking it off as he had done in the past.
The Huskies missed 11 shots in a row during one stretch in the first half, but settled into a nice rhythm from then on to finish with a .484 percentage from the field. They sank 21 of 23 free throws.
They’ll meet Western Washington University in another home exhibition Thursday.
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