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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 5:17 p.m., Sunday, January 20, 2008

Derrick Low scores 27 as Washington St. beats Oregon

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press Writer

PULLMAN, Wash. — Derrick Low scored 27 points and No. 8 Washington State rallied to beat Oregon 69-60 today, breaking a 13-game losing streak to the Ducks.

Low is an 'Iolani School alum from Honolulu.

Kyle Weaver added 16 points and eight assists for Washington State (16-1, 4-1 Pac-10), which tied Arizona State and UCLA for the league lead.

Maarty Leunen scored 20 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Oregon (12-6, 3-3), which lost its second consecutive road game.

Washington State, the nation's top defense at 52 points per game, held Oregon 21 points below its season average and to 44 percent shooting. Washington State last beat Oregon in 2001.

Oregon led much of the game, and Malik Hairston's two free throws with 2:08 left gave the Ducks their last lead at 59-57.

Low's free throw and Weaver's layup gave WSU a 60-59 lead with 59 seconds left.

Hairston missed a shot from the top of the key, and Taylor Rochestie rebounded and was fouled. Rochestie made both free throws, his first points, for a 62-59 lead with 42 seconds left.

Bryce Taylor missed a layup and Rochestie was fouled again, making both with 24 seconds left, and the Cougars pulled away at the free throw line.

After trailing 34-30 at halftime, Washington State outscored the Ducks 12-7 in the opening minutes of the second half. Weaver's basket gave WSU its first lead of the game at 42-41 with 14:52 left.

Oregon replied with a 9-2 run for a 50-44 lead.

But the Ducks suddenly were plagued by turnovers. Low's 3-pointer brought WSU to 52-51, and a pair of free throws by Kyle Weaver gave WSU a 53-52 lead with 6:37 left.

Low's layup tied the score at 57 with 4:01 left.

Washington State's 16-1 record is it best start since the 1948-49 team opened 18-1.