Updated at 9:33 p.m., Thursday, March 8, 2007
Low, Washington State advance to Pac-10 semifinals
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Taylor Rochestie scored 20 points, including 11 over the final 6½ minutes, and No. 11 Washington State pulled away to a 74-64 victory over Washington in the Pac-10 tournament quarterfinals tonight.The Cougars' 25th win was the second most in school history, matching the 1916-17 team. Their third victory ever in Pac-10 tourney play advanced them to Friday's semifinals against third-seeded Southern California.
Derrick Low, an 'Iolani School alum, added 15 points, Robbie Cowgill 14 and Kyle Weaver 13 for Washington State (25-6), which swept its in-state rival during the regular season under first-year coach Tony Bennett.
Quincy Pondexter led the Huskies (19-12) with 15 points. He was called for traveling and tossed up an airball in the closing seconds. Jon Brockman added 13 points and eight rebounds, helping the Huskies dominate the boards 31-21, including a 15-8 edge on the offensive glass.
Washington State never trailed after snapping a 56-all tie with 6½ minutes remaining. The Cougars closed out the game with an 18-8 run, including hitting 13-of-16 from the line.
Rochestie had seven in a row during the run that broke open a tight game.
The teams traded scoring runs earlier in the second half, with the Cougars' 12-5 spurt giving them a 52-45 lead _ their first since early in the game. The Huskies answered with an 11-4 burst to tie the game at 56.
Neither team led by more than seven points in the first half, when Washington State shot 58 percent from the floor, yet trailed 36-32 at the break. Tied at 21, the Huskies outscored the Cougars 15-11 to end the half, with Ryan Appleby hitting three 3-pointers in the spurt.
