The freshman from Everett camped outside the athletic complex from Thursday until Sunday to make sure he got one ticket to the game.

Then he moved his tent near the entrance of the McCarthey Athletic Center to make sure he gets in early to secure a good seat.

"My parents are not too happy about it," the exercise science major said. "But nothing is better than a Gonzaga game in the student section."

Ackerman joined scores of other Gonzaga students making the same sacrifice to secure one of about 1,500 student tickets available for one of the most widely anticipated basketball games in the region in years.

Never before have the two teams from Eastern Washington faced each other when both were ranked. Gonzaga (7-1) is located in downtown Spokane. Washington State (7-0) is 75 miles south on U.S. 195, in Pullman.

Washington State, led by former 'Iolani star Derrick Low, beat Gonzaga last year in Pullman, helping launch one of the greatest seasons in team history, and adding new fire to a matchup that was losing its edge after six consecutive Gonzaga wins.

Which is why students were willing to camp out during one of the coldest, wettest and windiest weekends of the year.

"We're getting wet," Ackerman said, as he staked down the tent that had been uprooted by winds that gusted to 30 mph.

Dozens of other tents were straining in the winds and soaked by nearly an inch of rain in the past 24 hours, the students inside shrieking with every gust.

"They're crazy if you ask me," Gonzaga player Jeremy Pargo said of the campers.

The team planned to send pizzas to the fans, assistant coach Leon Rice said.

Rice said the Gonzaga team arrived home from a road game in Boston about 2 a.m. on Sunday to discover the tent city.

"These guys were braving the elements like Lewis and Clark," Rice said. "One guy said `I hope I don't die."'

Risking death is the only option for most people who want to see the game. Gonzaga's 6,000-seat athletic center has been sold out since it opened. Student tickets, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, always require some type of wait.

And the game is televised only on ESPNU, which most Spokane-area households do not get.

Ackerman is sharing queue duties with six other students, one of whom must be in line at all times. He gets breaks to go to class. It's worth it, he said.

"I've hated the Cougars my whole life," he said. "I love Gonzaga basketball."

The Associated Press Top 25 that came out yesterday saw WSU drop two places and Gonzaga rise two spots from the week before.

Washington State is coming off a big win at Baylor last week. Gonzaga traveled east to beat Saint Joseph's and Connecticut in nail-biters.

In addition to bragging rights, early season showdowns between Top 25 teams have poll and postseason implications.

"It's huge for building our resume to the NCAA tournament," said Gonzaga forward David Pendergraft.

As rivalries go, this one is pretty benign.