Injury List Grows As UW Wins -- Tyrus, Woods Lead Huskies

The University of Washington men's basketball team, trying to tune up its up-tempo game, is finding out that it must walk before it can run.

Or just stand up.

Such key body parts as a left knee, a right ankle, a left calf and a queasy stomach prevented the Huskies from making a healthy effort in their final nonconference game last night against Idaho State (4-6).

Washington (6-3) managed an 81-69 victory, despite missing two starters, center Rich Manning (hyperextended left knee) and guard Bryant Boston (flu). Two other players went out with injuries, guards Jason Tyrus (left calf) and Prentiss Perkins (right ankle).

All this just in time for Washington's Pac-10 Conference opener, Saturday at Washington State (6-3).

"That's (injuries) just part of the game you can't control," UW Coach Lynn Nance said. "We lost Manning with 49 seconds left last week (against Dartmouth), and tonight we lost our point guard (Perkins) after the game was won. Those things happen."

Perkins rolled the ankle with 3:09 left. He was in a temporary walking cast last night and was to be re-examined and X-rayed this morning. He has never had a sprained ankle so his recovery time is uncertain.

"Oh yeah, I'll be ready (for WSU). I can't miss that game," Perkins said.

Perkins would not have been in the game if Tyrus, who scored a game-high 15 points, had not been injured just 22 seconds earlier. Tyrus was kicked in the calf, limped out and was replaced by Perkins. Tyrus' injury will have no lasting effect.

Neither might have been in the game if Boston had been ready to play. He missed practice Sunday and was still feeling ill last night. Nance decided to hold him out.

Boston and Tyrus should be available Saturday. Perkins is uncertain. Manning needs to test his knee this week in practice before his status is determined.

"He's sore," Nance said. "The knee is sound. There's no instability. He'll be shooting around (today).

"But there's no way a guy who's coming off an injury, who hasn't practiced, is suddenly going to be the hero. He's not going to be a factor in the outcome of the game."

Which brings us to Maurice Woods, the 6-foot-10 junior backup center who was a factor last night and may be called upon to do it again Saturday.

Woods, in his first start this season, had 12 points and matched his career high with nine rebounds. But his greatest value was shown defensively, in denying the Bengals' leading scorer, 6-9 center Jim Potter.

Potter, averaging 19.9 points entering the game, was held to one point. He was 0 for 6 from the floor. Woods was particularly effective at fronting Potter, denying the inside pass.

"He was coming off a 29-point game, so our objective was to stop him," Woods said.

Woods' importance was amplified because Husky sophomore forward Mark Pope was limited to just 17 minutes and eight points because of foul trouble.

"With Rich out," Woods said, "I've got to step up. I know my role, what to do defensively and what shots to take. It (injuries) hurt, but everyone gains confi-dence. When we get everyone back and fresh, we'll be better than what we were. It's going to make us stronger."

Nance said the injuries hinder the team's ability to play as a unit, but they also allow players such as Woods and Tyrus to contribute.

"I really like the way Maurice is playing," Nance said. "His play has continued to improve, instead of being up one night and down the next. The confidence he's developing is real, not a false confidence."

Washington, leading just 31-26 at halftime, shot out to a 47-30 lead by the 12:20 mark. The lead was built to 69-46 by 6:10, before the Bengals made it respectable in the closing minutes.

The Huskies held a 19-4 rebounding edge in the second half. They shot 64 percent (16 for 25) in the half.

Washington, which lost to the Cougars in Pullman last season, 75-57, plays three straight Pac-10 road games. The Huskies travel to Arizona (5-2) Jan. 14 and Arizona State (6-1), which has won six straight, Jan. 16.

"It's not just three road games, it's who they are against. Those are three tough games," Nance said. "Their (conference officials) answer is that you get them back at the end of the year, but it doesn't work that way. If you lose three conference games right away, the end of the year doesn't really matter."