Jan. 25, 2007
Box Score
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Robbie Cowgill had a career-high 18 points and 11 rebounds to lead No. 20 Washington State to a 70-55 victory over Oregon State on Thursday night in the Cougars' first home game as a ranked team in 57 years.
Kyle Weaver scored 12 points and Ivory Clark added 11 for Washington State (17-3, 6-2 Pac-10).
Sasa Cuic had 17 points and Marcel Jones added 14 for Oregon State (9-12, 1-7), which shot 6-for-19 on free throws and 37 percent from the floor.
After a lethargic first half in which Washington State led 30-23, the tempo picked up in the second. Oregon State closed to 32-30 early in the second, but the Cougars scored seven in a row for a 39-30 advantage.
After Josh Tarver's 3-pointer brought Oregon State within 41-37, Derrick Low scored five straight points for a 46-37 WSU lead.
Cuic then picked up his fourth foul with 8:39 left in the game and Washington State leading 52-44. After he hit a 3, Washington State scored eight straight - four by Cowgill - for a 60-47 lead with 5:25 left.
Jones sank a 3 and Tarver added a basket as Oregon State closed to 62-55 with 3:23 left. Cuic fouled out with 2:12 left and Washington State leading 66-55 and the Beavers did not threaten again.
Oregon State jumped to a 17-11 lead as both teams had trouble scoring in the first half. Aron Baynes' jumper for Washington State tied the score at 17 with 7:08 left.
The Cougars outscored the Beavers 13-2 over the final 5 minutes of the first half to take a 30-23 lead into the break.
Oregon State shot just 35 percent in the first, making 10-of-28, and were just 2-of-8 from the free-throw line.
The last time Washington State played a home game while ranked in The AP Top 25 was on Feb. 7, 1950. The Cougars were ranked No. 17 and beat Oregon 64-48. Three days later, they lost to Idaho, 51-50, at home.
The Cougars were ranked briefly in 1983 and for a week earlier this season, but played only road games before falling out of the poll.
The win guaranteed the first winning season for Washington State since 1995-96.
