UW freshman guard Isaiah Thomas was on the bench at the start of the Cleveland State game because he was late -- just barely -- joining his teammates on the court for pregame warmups.

UW coach Lorenzo Romar started Venoy Overton instead.

"Isaiah was just a couple of minutes late," Romar explained after the game.

However, Thomas was sent onto the court after three minutes and eight seconds. He ended the night back in Romar's good graces with eight points, two rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes.

"That’s a team rule," Thomas said. "(I was) exactly one minute late. ... We go out to the court as a team at 6. I was getting my ankles taped. It was my fault. I take the blame for it."

Thomas was asked when was the last time he started a game on the bench.

"Never," he said. "It felt weird, but we got the win. That’s the important part."

Thomas contributed the key play in that win, hitting a three-pointer from the corner at the same time Jon Brockman was being fouled under the basket. The result was a five-point play that seemed to settle the issue.

"I have confidence in my shot," he said. "I was open and I shot it. It was a good pass from (Joe Wolfinger.) … That was a big shot."