SEATTLE — Washington didn't just beat rugged UCLA. The Huskies beat up the big, bad Bruins — literally socked one of them in the nose.

Justin Dentmon, benched in favor of a freshman for most of the season, scored 20 points and completely took Darren Collison out of the game defensively to lead previously wayward Washington to a 71-61 upset of No. 5 UCLA yesterday.

With UCLA down 66-61 with 47 seconds left because the Huskies had squandered much of a nine-point lead at the foul line, Washington's Tim Morris was about to get called for a five-second violation on an inbound play. Instead, he threw the ball off the nose of Alfred Aboya, who was guarding him closely across the boundary line, and it banged into an incensed UCLA bench.

The Huskies retained possession and Jon Brockman, who had 12 points and 17 rebounds, scored. Ryan Appleby added two free throws following a steal to put Washington (13-11, 4-7 Pac-10) up 70-61. The upset, accompanied by a wild celebration, was back on.

"He just threw it off the kid's face," UCLA coach Ben Howland said of Morris' sneaky trick.

When asked if that is OK, perhaps by the unwritten code of how to play the game, Howland shot back, "No."

"The official said there is nothing he can do," Howland said. "So I guess legally you can do it."

Dentmon entered for Venoy Overton in the game's first minute, after coach Lorenzo Romar benched the freshman for not running back on defense. Dentmon then took over for the Huskies, who had lost four straight — the last three at home.

Washington won its fourth consecutive home game against the Bruins (21-3, 9-2) dating to 2004. The Huskies are now 11-68 against teams ranked in the top 5, stretching back to 1950. Their previous win at home over such a foe was last March, against then-No. 2 UCLA.

"Coach asked me last week, 'What's gotten into you?' I told him I just kept having these dreams of playing above my abilities," Dentmon said. "Constantly, every night. It's been weird."

No. 3 North Carolina 103, Clemson 93: Tyler Hansbrough scored 13 of his 39 points in the first and second overtimes to help the Tar Heels (22-2, 7-2 ACC) rally from a 15-point deficit and beat the Tigers (17-6, 5-4) in Chapel Hill, N.C.

No. 13 Xavier 76, Saint Josephs 72: Stanley Burrell scored 16 points and made a pair of clinching free throws with 13 seconds left to help the Musketeers (20-4, 8-1) beat the Hawks (15-7, 6-3) in a matchup of the Atlantic 10's top two teams in Cincinnati.

No. 14 Indiana 59, Ohio St. 53: D.J. White scored 21 points and had 13 rebounds to lead the Hoosiers (20-3, 9-1 Big Ten) past the Buckeyes (16-8, 7-4) in Columbus, Ohio.

TOP 25 WOMEN

No. 3 North Carolina 75, Georgia Tech 62: Rashanda McCants had 19 points and Erlana Larkins added 18 points as the Tar Heels (22-0, 9-0 ACC) beat the Yellow Jackets (18-6, 5-5) in Atlanta.

No. 8 LSU 63, No. 24 Georgia 57: Sylvia Fowles had 19 points and 15 rebounds to help the Lady Tigers (20-3, 9-0 SEC) beat the Lady Bulldogs (17-7, 4-5) in Baton Rouge, La., for their 11th straight win.

No. 11 Duke 71, Wake Forest 36: Carrem Gay scored a game-high 15 points as the Blue Devils (18-6, 7-2 ACC) hammered the Demon Deacons (14-12, 1-10) in Durham, N.C.

No. 13 Old Dominion 83, William & Mary 68: Shahida Williams had 18 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Monarchs (20-3, 11-0 Colonial Athletic Association) over the Tribe (11-12, 5-6) in Norfolk, Va.

No. 14 George Washington 78, Richmond 51: Jessica Adair scored 27 points to lead the Colonials (19-4, 7-1 Atlantic 10) over the Spiders (11-12, 4-4) in Washington.

No. 16 Notre Dame 81, No. 15 Pittsburgh 66: Tulyah Gaines scored 13 points as the Irish (18-5, 6-3 Big East) beat the Panthers (18-5, 8-2) in South Bend, Ind.

No. 17 Oklahoma State 92, Nebraska 81: Andrea Riley scored 24 points, Shaunte Smith added 20 and the Cowgirls (19-3, 7-2 Big 12) beat the Huskers (17-7, 6-4) in Lincoln, Neb.

No. 22 Wyoming 70, New Mexico 55: Jodi Bolerjack scored 17 points and Justyna Podziemska added 16 to lead the Cowgirls (19-3, 7-2 Mountain West Conference) over the Lobos (12-10, 4-5) in Laramie, Wyo.

No. 19 Ohio St. 80, Wisconsin 77: Marscilla Packer scored 23 points and Jantel Lavender added 22 as the Buckeyes (18-6, 9-4 Big Ten) beat the Badgers (11-11, 4-8) in Madison, Wis.

No. 23 Syracuse 70, Marquette 67: Freshman guard Erica Morrow scored a season-high 24 points as the Orange (18-4, 6-3 Big East) beat The Golden Eagles (13-10, 5-5) in Syracuse, N.Y.

No. 25 Louisville 79, DePaul 68: Angel McCoughtry had 41 points and nine rebounds to lead the Cardinals (16-7, 5-5 Big East) over the Blue Demons (16-7, 5-5) in Chicago.