Jan. 22, 2000
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP and staff sources) - A.D. Smith sank a game-winning jumper from inside the
key with 36 seconds left in overtime to lead Oregon to an 80-81 victory over
Washington State on Saturday.
Smith's basket marked the 22nd lead change in a game that ended with
Washington State's Jan-Michael Thomas' driving jumper bouncing off the rim with
four seconds left. Both teams were still scrambling for the rebound when time
expired.
It was the second overtime victory in three days for the Ducks (13-3, 4-1
Pacific-10 Conference), fresh off a 76-74 win Thursday at Washington. It was also the second straight year the two teams played extra minutes in Pullman, last season, Oregon won an 87-83 triple-overtime marathon.
Washington State (5-10, 0-6) led most of the second half and finished
10-for-17 from 3-point range only to lose its seventh game in a row.
The Cougars trailed 32-29 after the first half, which featured eight lead
changes.
Washington State came out strong in the second half and held a 68-60 lead
with 2:54 left in regulation play.
But Oregon whittled the lead down before the Ducks' Alex Scales hit
back-to-back 3-point shots in the final minute of regulation. His second
3-pointer came with 34 seconds left and closed out scoring in regulation at
72-72. The Ducks were 1-of-15 from three-point range until Scales hit his back-to-back three pointers.
Neither team led by more than two points in overtime.
Scales led all scorers with 27 points on 10-for-18 shooting, while Smith
finished with 20 on 8-for-13 shooting. Four of Bryan Bracey's 11 points came in
overtime.
Chris Crosby led Washington State with 26 points, including 12 from 3-point
range. Jan-Michael Thomas added 20 points and Mike Bush had 15 points and seven
rebounds.
Eddie Miller just missed yet another double-double for the Cougars, collecting 12 points and nine rebounds. Miller also had a career-high three blocks and three steals. Paul Mencke, a walk-on from the football team, grabbed a career-high five rebounds in 15 minutes.
The Cougars next head to the Bay Area to face California Thursday night at 7:30 and No. 3 Stanford next Saturday at 1 p.m.
