Saturday, February 16, 2013 @ 6:34pm

Singler leads No. 23 Oregon past WSU 79-77 in OT

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Oregon's E.J. Singler was prepared for a lot of possible scenarios as he dribbled the ball up the court with the Ducks and Washington State tied in the final seconds of overtime.

What he didn't expect was WSU's Dexter Kernich-Drew to reach out and foul him.

Singler sank both free throws with 3.8 seconds left in overtime as No. 23 Oregon escaped with a 79-77 win over slumping Washington State on Saturday.

"Some of the guys were calling `foul,' so I don't think he knew what the score was," said Singler, who finished with 25 points. "I was shocked."

Washington State players and coaches rallied around Kernich-Drew, saying one mistake did not cause the defeat.

"It was just a mistake," WSU's Brock Motum said. "It's in the past now. He needs to keep his head up."

"If not for him we wouldn't have been in the game," Washington State coach Ken Bone said of Kernich-Drew, who had several key baskets.

Carlos Emory added 20 points for Oregon (21-5, 10-3 Pac-12), which held on to first place in the conference.

Royce Woolridge scored a career-high 36 points for Washington State (11-15, 2-11), losers of six straight. Woolridge missed a half-court shot as time expired.

Washington State built an 18-point lead in the first half, and led by 11 at halftime. But Ducks erased that in the early minutes of the second half and the score was tied at 71 at the end of regulation.

DaVonte Lacy's free throw put Washington State up 72-71, but Johnathan Loyd replied with a basket and then Emory stole a pass and slammed the ball home for a 75-72 Oregon lead.

Motum sank two free throws to bring WSU within one.

Singler made a free throw to give Oregon a 76-74 lead. After a WSU miss, Emory was fouled on the rebound and made his first free throw but missed his second. Oregon got the rebound but turned the ball over with 29 seconds left. Woolridge made a long 3-pointer to tie the score at 77.

But Dexter Kernich-Drew fouled Singler with 3.8 seconds left and the senior made both free throws for the winning points.

"Throughout my whole college career I have never seen a game like this," Emory said.

Washington State's first four field goals of the game were 3-pointers as they took a 13-11 lead.

Oregon center Tony Woods was called for a flagrant foul for elbowing Motum, WSU's leading scorer, in the head and was ejected from the game with 9:55 left in the first and Oregon trailing 19-13. Motum was on the floor for several minutes holding his head but returned quickly. Woods averages 10 points and 3 rebounds per game.

Washington State scored six consecutive points after that foul to take a 25-13 lead.

Oregon managed only one field goal over a 13-minute span to fall behind 32-15.

The Ducks clawed back behind three baskets by Emory, but Washington State led 38-27 at halftime. Woolridge had 22 points in the first half, besting his career high of 20. Oregon shot just 33 percent in the first, to 46 percent for WSU.

"We were dead, just standing around with no energy," Oregon coach Dana Altman said of the first half.

Oregon opened the second half with a quick 15-5 run, nine of the points by Singler and six by Damyean Dotson, to cut WSU's lead to 43-42.

Then Waverly Austin's basket gave Oregon its first lead since early in the game at 44-43 with 14:17 left.

"We all just got together and the chemistry started flowing," Emory said.

Two 3-pointers by Kernich-Drew put WSU ahead 52-47.

The teams traded baskets, and Austin's layup brought Oregon to 56-55. Woolridge hit a 3-pointer for WSU, but Singler replied with one for Oregon.

Emory's dunk and free throw put Oregon ahead 61-59 with 5:54 left.

Arsalan Kazemi's layup gave Oregon a 67-64 lead. After Motum made one of two free throws, Emory sank two free throws to put the Ducks up 69-65 with 1:58 left.

Washington State missed several 3-point tries. Then Woolridge was fouled going for a layup, and sank one free throw to bring WSU to 69-66 with 32 seconds left.

Washington State fouled Singler, who made both for a 71-66 lead with 28 seconds left. Motum was fouled shooting a 3 and made two of three to cut Oregon's lead to 71-68 with 18 seconds left.

Loyd was immediately fouled and missed both.

Washington State's D.J. Shelton rebounded and, after a timeout, DaVonte Lacy sank a 3-pointer from the left corner to tie the score at 71 with 5.3 seconds left.

Dotson and Singler both got off shots for Oregon, but missed and the game went into overtime.

"I'm really proud of my teammates," Woolridge said. "We went out there and we fought. ... We may not be winning every game, but we fight."

Oregon has won five in a row over Washington State, including the game earlier this season in Eugene. They swept both Washington schools for the first time since 1990.

Washington State is 0-5 against ranked opponents this season.

Thursday, February 7, 2013 @ 10:35pm

Southern California beats Washington State 72-68

LOS ANGELES (AP) - For USC's J.T. Terrell, it's all about quality over quantity.

The Trojans' 6-foot-3 junior shooting guard wasn't much of a factor for most of Thursday night's Pac-12 game against Washington State, but there was a 10-minute stretch during the heart of the second half that made the difference in USC's 72-68 victory before 3,629 at the Galen Center.

Terrell scored 12 points during that stretch to help USC (10-13, 5-5 Pac-12) rally from a seven-point deficit and finally take the lead for good at 56-53 on his third and final 3-pointer of the game with 5:26 remaining.

Terrell did not take another shot because he fouled out moments later, but his impact was decisive.

"It's exciting," USC interim coach Bob Cantu said of Terrell. "He's a guy that can light it up quickly. The whole thing with him is making sure he knows to take shots in rhythm and in the flow of the offense. He's starting to understand how to take good shots."

When Terrell wasn't doing his thing, USC got strong performances from Byron Wesley, who scored a team-high 20 points, and point guard Jio Fontan, who had 10 points and a game-high 11 assists. Wesley scored 13 points in the first half before changing his focus in the second half.

"In the first half my teammates did a good job of finding me for easy baskets," Wesley said. "At halftime the coaches asked me to step up on the boards and focus on that."

Wesley finished with eight rebounds and USC outrebounded Washington State 41-31.

"USC did a good job on the glass," Cougars coach Ken Bone said. "We knew they were quick and athletic, and it showed tonight."

USC's front-court defense stepped up as well in limiting Washington State's Brock Motum, who began the night ranked third in the Pac-12 in scoring, averaging 18.3 points per game. Motum scored 15 points Thursday on 6-of-16 shooting for the Cougars (11-12, 2-8).

"Motum got his 15, but he never got into his flow," Cantu said. "We wanted to keep rotating fresh bodies at him and give him different looks."

USC front-court players Dewayne Dedmon, Eric Wise, Ari Stewart and Aaron Fuller all contributed to slow down Motum, but Washington State's backcourt tandem of DaVonte Lacy and Mike Ladd came up big. Lacy led all scorers with 21 points and Ladd had 16.

Behind Lacy and Ladd, Washington State held a 33-30 halftime lead. USC scored two quick buckets to start the second half to take a 34-33 lead, but Washington State responded with an 8-0 run to take its biggest lead of the game at 41-34. The Trojans, though, took advantage of Motum's uncharacteristically poor shooting night and managed to regain the lead.

Terrell was good on 3-pointers on consecutive trips down the court for the Trojans, who went up 49-47 with 7:45 to play. He hit his third 3 at the 5:26 mark to give USC the lead for good, but fouled out soon after.

USC forged ahead early in the game behind Wesley, who led all scorers with his 13 first-half points. Stewart added eight points for the Trojans in the opening 20 minutes, including five points on consecutive possessions midway through the half that gave USC its biggest lead of the half, 21-14.

The Cougars, though, responded with a 19-7 run behind Lacy and Ladd to take a 33-28 lead. Lacy (nine points) and Ladd (eight points) led the way offensively for the Cougars, who made 6 of 12 3-pointers in the opening half.

The Trojans got to within 33-30 at the half when Wesley scored on a breakaway layup at the halftime buzzer.

Motum was held to six points in the first half and did not have a rebound.

"Our zone was effective, particularly at the end of the first half," Bone said. "It slowed them down and allowed us to take a lead into halftime. We played good defense. But at the end of the day, it just comes down to execution, and we didn't do that. That's why they came out on top."

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 @ 3:47pm

Washington State signs QB Bruggman

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Washington State signed its top recruit, quarterback Tyler Bruggman, after a bit of drama Wednesday.

Various media reports said Arizona State made a late pitch to the four-star prospect from Phoenix. Washington State coach Mike Leach said he did not know if that was true, but added he had little doubt that the 6-foot-2, 202-pound Bruggman would sign with the Cougars.

"All I know is at midnight I got a lasagna recipe from Mrs. Bruggman," Leach said Wednesday.

Leach said Bruggman's mother made the best meal he had on the recruiting trail this year. "In terms of volume and quality it was impressive," Leach said.

Tyler Bruggman is pretty impressive too, Leach said.

"He's very efficient," Leach said. "The ball comes off his hands quickly."

Washington State's only four-star recruit is highly intelligent and has great leadership skills, Leach said.

Washington State announced the addition of 24 players on Wednesday, including high school recruits and junior college transfers. Five of the players were already enrolled in classes.

Leach said he was happy with a class that featured 11 offensive or defensive linemen. The Cougars recruited heavily in Washington and Southern California. Scout.com rated their recruiting class 39th in the nation Wednesday.

Leach landed 11 players from California, six from Washington and two from Pago Pago, American Samoa, in what amounted to the first class in which he had ample time to recruit. He signed his first class barely two months after being hired at Washington State.

One of the Samoans was 290-pound defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale. "He's that big and he can also run," Leach said.

The biggest player he signed was 320-pound offensive lineman Riley Sorenson from Santa Margarita High in California.

The Cougars picked up three wide receivers in River Cracraft, also of Santa Margarita High; Robert Lewis, from South Gate, Calif.; and Vince Mayle, a 220-pound transfer from Sierra College.

"He catches the ball, runs with the ball and pancakes guys when he blocks them," Leach said of Mayle, whom he likened physically to the San Francisco 49ers' Michael Crabtree.

The Cougars also picked up a couple of running backs to try to jumpstart their low-producing rushing attack. Jamal Morrow is a shifty back from Menifee, Calif., Leach said. Gerard Wicks is a 195-pound running back from Long Beach Poly High in California.

Leach did not identify which players might contribute right away, but he noted that 15 freshmen played last year.

"I'm pretty happy," he said. "We got quality guys, good in the classroom for the most part. We needed offensive and defensive linemen and we did that."

While it is conventional wisdom that recruiting to tiny and rural Pullman is difficult, Leach said he is not finding that's the case.

"Without exception, when they come here they like it," he said. "This is a college town and feels like a college town."

Wednesday, February 6, 2013 @ 12:25pm

Live UW, WSU updates during national signing day

See which players have signed their letters of intent with Washington and Washington State as we update the lists throughout signing day. Our siging day page will also include relevant stories and audio as the day progresses. Here's the link.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 @ 2:23pm

Ryan Leaf could serve Texas time in Montana prison

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - The Texas prosecutor who brokered a 10-year probationary sentence for former NFL quarterback Ryan Leaf said Tuesday he is working on a plea deal that would allow the Montana native to serve his sentence in his home state.

Randall County District Attorney James Farren said he'll seek a seven-year sentence against Leaf for violating terms of his probation when he was arrested for drug possession in Montana last year. A Texas judge would have to approve the deal.

"He would never have to come back here, which would be fine with me," Farren said, adding that the deal would save the state money for travel to and from Montana and the cost to house Leaf in a Texas prison.

Leaf, a Heisman Trophy finalist at Washington State, spent four seasons in the NFL after being chosen No. 2 in the 1998 draft _ behind Peyton Manning _ by the San Diego Chargers. He retired after four dismal seasons, finishing his career with 14 touchdowns and 36 interceptions.

In late 2008, Leaf resigned from West Texas A&M in Canyon after coaching quarterbacks for three seasons. He later said he was introduced to heavy-duty painkillers following surgeries on his shoulders, knees and wrists, and he realized he was addicted in March 2008. He was accused of presenting an incomplete medical history to physicians in 2008 in his quest to get the painkiller Hydrocodone, and of forcing his way into an apartment to steal the drug that had been prescribed to an injured football player.

Leaf got probation after pleading guilty to eight felony drug charges in 2010. But after moving back to his home state, he is now in a Montana prison after being kicked out of a drug treatment program. He pleaded guilty last May to burglary and drug possession.

Farren said the Texas sentence and one Leaf is serving in Montana would run concurrently.

"It may be a deal breaker if it's more than Montana's" sentence, Farren said. "That's our position at this point. I'm not going to agree to less than seven."

Leaf got five years in Montana. Leaf's defense attorney in Texas, Bill Kelly, said there are procedural hoops still to be negotiated and that he and Farren hadn't yet discussed specifics. He did agree that Leaf would be better served handling the case from afar.

"There's no need to bring him back here and reinvent the wheel," he said.

Leaf was charged last spring with breaking into two houses and stealing prescription painkillers near his hometown of Great Falls, Mont. After pleading guilty, his five-year sentence called for spending nine months in a locked drug treatment facility as an alternative to prison.

Leaf will remain in the state prison until at least June 30, when he becomes eligible for parole, a Montana prison official said. That does not mean he will be released, but he will receive a hearing before the state Board of Pardons and Parole.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 @ 7:48am

Washington State dismisses WR from team

Pullman police say Loftus tried to leave the Dissmore's IGA store early Friday morning with two bottles of tequila shoved into the waistband of his sweatpants.

The Spokesman-Review reported Tuesday that he was arrested on misdemeanor counts of theft, minor in possession of alcohol and minor intoxicated in public.

The 19-year-old Loftus caught one pass for 37 yards last year as a freshman.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 @ 3:53am

Last count in Leach Texas Tech lawsuit dismissed

State District Judge William Sowder wrote the school and Leach's attorney Monday that Texas Tech didn't violate the coach's due process rights when he was fired in December 2009.

Texas Tech spokesman Chris Cook says the school is pleased with the decision. Leach's attorney Ted Liggett tells the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal (bit.ly/VBcgm2) Leach is considering options that include a court appeal.

Sowder previously dismissed most of the other counts in Leach's lawsuit.

Leach sued a month after he was fired for alleged mistreatment of a player. He denied the accusation. He was Texas Tech's most successful football coach and now coaches at Washington State.

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Information from: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, http://www.lubbockonline.com

Thursday, January 31, 2013 @ 10:41pm

Arizona State defeats Washington State 63-59

Carson scored 21 of his 25 points in the second half, and led Arizona State to its third straight victory, 63-59 over Washington State.

Carson and Carrick Felix carried the load in the second half for the Sun Devils (17-4, 6-2 Pac-12), scoring all but five of Arizona State's points after the break, when the Cougars led 28-24.

With the score tied at 58, Carson made a layup and was fouled by Brock Motum. Carson made the free throw to give the Sun Devils a 61-58 lead. And the freshman's basket with 16 seconds to play accounted for the final margin. He made six of his last seven shots and finished 10 of 19 for the night.

"He is impressive, for a freshman to have that kind of composure down the stretch after struggling in the first half is something," Sun Devils coach Herb Sendek said.

Carson made just 2 of 8 shots in the first half for four points.

"I just got used to their (Washington State) defense, I got used to the court and I just kept trying to shoot with confidence. I started to be more focused in the second half and attack the paint," Carson said.

The Cougars had a nine-point lead in the first half, the biggest for either team in a game that featured 10 lead changes.

"He (Carson) hurt us in many ways in the second half, driving the ball and shooting, and he started to free up his team for multiple shots," Washington State head coach Ken Bone said.

Before the late heroics, Washington State had scored seven straight points to make it 58-all. Royce Woolridge, who led the Cougars (11-10, 2-6) with 16 points, had five in that 7-0 run. Woolridge scored 15 of his points in the second half.

Evan Gordon had 13 points and Felix had 11 points – all in the second half – and 11 rebounds for the Sun Devils, who overcame a 4-for-11 performance from the free-throw line.

The Sun Devils are 6-2 in the conference for the first time since 1994, and are off to their best start since 1981, when ASU began the season 19-2 behind eventual NBA players Byron Scott, Fat Lever and Alton Lister.

Mike Ladd had 14 points, and Motum matched Felix's numbers with 11 points and 11 boards for the Cougars. The point total for Motum was his lowest of the season.

Dexter Kernich-Drew scored 10 points for Washington State, which has lost six times this season by seven or fewer points. The Cougars' next game is at home Saturday against No. 8 Arizona while the Sun Devils go across the state to face Washington, also on Saturday.

The Sun Devils committed only four turnovers in the game – none by guards Carson, Felix and Gordon. Washington State was 7 of 14 from 3-point range in the first half, tying their best long-range field-goal performance of the season, but went just 2 of 9 the rest of the way.