Nikola Dzepina and LeJuan Watts lead Washington to 90-76 win over Colgate

Nikola Dzepina and LeJuan Watts propelled Washington to a 90-76 victory over Colgate in their season opener on Monday night. The freshman and sophomore duo combined for a career-high 49 points, with Dzepina chalking up 27 points and Watts adding 22. Washington's defense was equally impressive, as they held Colgate to 30% shooting from the field.

Andrew Alekseyenko led the Raiders with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Parker Jones and Sam Wright contributed 17 and 15 points respectively. Colgate took a 33-28 lead into halftime, but Washington turned the tide with three 3-pointers from Ryan Beasley and Wesley Yates III, giving them a narrow 43-38 advantage. A 12-0 run led by Dzepina's 7 points helped Washington extend their lead to 62-50 before the second half.

The Huskies have struggled in recent years, with a .500 or worse record in five of their last seven seasons, but their dominance in this game could signal a promising start to their season. The Raiders, on the other hand, have five Patriot League championships and five NCAA tournament bids in the last nine seasons. Washington will next take on Mississippi Valley State on Monday.