Wednesday, January 23, 2013 @ 10:35pm

Oregon State holds off Washington for 74-66 win

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) - Oregon State hadn't been able to find an answer to a Pac-12 opponent, dropping its first five conference games.

But the Beavers were able to muster one Wednesday night against Washington after it looked like it might get away from them again. Oregon State watched a 20-point first-half lead shrink to one with under 11 minutes to play but held on for a 74-66 win.

"This is what we're capable of," said Beavers guard Roberto Nelson, who had 15 points, 10 in the second half. "The whole team, the coaching staff, nobody thought we'd be 0-5 starting off."

Devon Collier led Oregon State (11-8, 1-5 Pac-12), which started the season 9-2, with 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Eric Moreland added 12 points and 10 rebounds off the bench for the Beavers, who had their highest-scoring game in conference play.

C.J. Wilcox had 23 points and seven rebounds and Aziz N'Diaye added 10 points and 10 rebounds for Washington (12-7, 4-2), which lost its second straight game.

"We didn't execute tonight," Huskies coach Lorenzo Romar said. "Early on, we weren't committed to what we were supposed to be doing."

Washington chipped away at a 10-point halftime deficit early in the second half.

The Huskies closed within 41-35 as Wilcox closed out a 6-0 run with a shot from outside. A Wilcox 3-pointer later made it 49-45 Oregon State. Wilcox hit another from 3-point range with 12:16 left that got Washington within 53-52.

The Beavers extended the lead to 61-55 on Nelson's 3-pointer with 8:17 left.

Oregon State later scored five straight points, with Ahmad Starks' 3-pointer and Collier's two free throws making it 66-57 with 5:11 remaining.

Washington got no closer than six from there, and the Beavers led by as many as 10 in the closing minutes.

"We seemed to keep our heads a little bit. We didn't get down on the run they were making," Starks said. "We've kind of depended on one-on-one play, and we stopped that and just played our game."

Oregon State shot 26 of 59 overall from the field, while Washington was 25 of 53. The Beavers had a 36-35 rebounding edge and seven steals, led by Joe Burton's three.

Oregon State had five players in double-figure scoring, with Burton getting 13 points and Starks 10. Washington had four, with Abdul Gaddy scoring 14 and Scott Suggs 11.

Oregon State jumped to an 11-1 run behind five points from Starks.

The Beavers, on their way to their most first-half points in a Pac-12 game this season, kept the pressure on, going ahead 20-9 on Olaf Schaftenaar's 3-pointer.

Oregon State took its biggest lead of the half at 34-14 on Collier's dunk off a steal with 5:28 before intermission.

Saturday, January 19, 2013 @ 9:31pm

Colorado defeats Washington State 58-49

Two freshmen contributed with double figures for the night as Xavier Johnson added 14 points and Josh Scott chipped in 11 as Colorado (12-6, 2-4 Pac-12) rebounded from a loss Wednesday night against Washington.

"Anytime you can win on the road is a good thing, especially when you can make some big plays down the stretch and keep up the intensity," Colorado head coach Ted Boyle said.

Colorado led 23-19 at halftime. The Cougars started the second half by going on a 12-4 run, taking a 31-27 lead near the 15-minute mark. The teams traded baskets until 6:08 when Dinwiddie hit Colorado's only three of the night to take a 47-42 lead. Colorado would then go on a run to put the game out of reach at 54-46 with under a minute to play.

Colorado made all their free throws down the stretch to end the game. Colorado had 36 rebounds, led by Andre Roberson and Askia Booker, who had seven apiece. Washington State had 32 had rebounds.

"We didn't execute very well especially down the stretch, we got frustrated not making shots, and it got the best of us," Washington State head coach Ken Bone said. "We simply did not execute well offensively."

Brock Motum and Mike Ladd had 13 points apiece for Washington State (10-8, 1-4). Motum also had seven rebounds.

Colorado shot 43 percent from the field for the game, while Washington State shot 34.5 percent.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013 @ 8:46pm

Washington State defeats Utah 75-65

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Mike Ladd had 22 points and hit five 3-pointers to lead five Washington State players scoring in double figures in a 75-65 win against Utah on Wednesday night.

Brock Motum and Royce Woolridge added 14 points each and DaVonte Lacy and D.J Shelton 10 apiece for the Cougars (10-7, 1-3 Pac-12), who snapped a three-game losing streak.

Brandon Taylor had 13 points and Justin Seymour 11 for the Utes (8-9, 0-5).

Utah fought back from a 16-point deficit with the help of back-to-back three-point plays by Seymour to get within 47-41 with just under 10 minutes to play.

"We started the game well, hitting 3-pointers to start and then kept getting good looks, but then we started to turn the ball over in the second half, and they came back," Washington State coach Ken Bone said.

But Motum, who went scoreless in the first half, hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key and added a layup off a steal to help push the Cougars to a 60-46 advantage with six minutes remaining.

"We really needed that shot from Brock; they were coming back, and that 3 was huge. It stopped their momentum," Bone said. "Utah plays great defense, (and) I was glad we were able to keep up our shooting percentage."

Washington State shot 50 percent (24 of 48) from the field and 55 percent (11 for 20) from behind the arc.

"They (Washington State) had not been shooting well, but when they came out tonight and hit 3s at will, it was just their night," Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "They made shots and we turned the ball over, and that was the game."

Washington State scored 28 points off 17 Utah turnovers.

Utah got back within 10 on 3-pointer from Jarred DuBois with 3:46 left but got no closer. The Utes shot 46 percent (23 of 50) for the game.

Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 5:00pm

Golden Bears overcome drought to hold off Cougars

BERKELEY, Calif. - California head coach Mike Montgomery isn't going to make any apologies for the way his team has to grind out games these days.

With little scoring punch beyond the tandem of Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs, it's the way the Golden Bears are going to have to do things.

Tyrone Wallace scored a season-high 16 points, Cobbs made six free throws in the final two minutes and California played solid defense in the second half to overcame a sloppy offensive performance and beat Washington State 67-54 on Saturday.

The Bears (10-6, 2-2 Pac-12) won despite committing 19 turnovers, giving up 21 offensive rebounds and being held without a basket over the final 4:59.

"Get used to it fellas, it ain't changing," Montgomery said of his team's style. "We have to do what we have to do. We're not going to go out there and all of a sudden turn into the `76 Knicks. It's just not happening."

Cal shot well when it could hold onto the ball but had trouble getting the ball inside and couldn't run its offense consistently enough.

That allowed Washington State (9-7, 0-3) to stick close deep into the second half until the Bears went 11 of 12 at the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the win.

"We just told each other we gotta get serious if we want to make a run at the Pac-12, like we're capable of doing," said Crabbe, who had 14 points. "We have all the weapons that we need to be successful. We all have to get on the same page."

Cobbs finished with 10 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Bears, who won for just the fourth time in 10 games after opening the season 6-0.

It definitely wasn't pretty, though Wallace managed to stand out after being pulled from the starting lineup for missing the morning shootaround.

Wallace, a freshman who had been shut out in his previous two games at Haas Pavilion, had seven points in the first half but did his most effective work down the stretch.

After Royce Woolridge's 3-pointer pulled the Cougars within 52-49 with 5:50 remaining, Wallace grabbed a long offensive rebound and scored on a driving layup. He followed with a short jumper then blocked a Brock Motum layup attempt from behind before adding three free throws as part of a 9-1 run in the final minutes.

"We're aware of how good a player he is," Washington State head coach Ken Bone said of Wallace. "They're more than just Cobbs and Crabbe. They showed that tonight with Wallace."

California tied a team record with 11 blocked shots, with a career-high six from Richard Solomon.

The Bears needed every one to hold off a pesky Washington State team that shot just 33.3 percent for the game but was within 58-51 with 3 1/2 minutes to play.

But the Cougars went cold following a putback by Mike Ladd and managed only four baskets over the final 12 minutes while losing its third straight following a five-game winning streak.

"We were sort of out of sync on offense," said Motum, who had 16 points. "They have a lot of length inside. They blocked a few shots and maybe we got timid."

Ladd had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Washington State, and Woolridge also scored 12.

Neither team played well during a sloppy, mistake-filled first half.

Cal went 9 of 12 from the floor but committed 10 turnovers and was consistently outworked in the paint and outhustled for loose balls. Crabbe, coming off a season-low nine points in the Bears 62-47 loss to Washington on Wednesday, got off to another slow start and had just four points before the break.

Washington State wasn't much better, shooting only 35.7 percent and going 1 of 8 on 3s. Motum had 10 points in the first half, but he also had two turnovers.

Jeff Powers, making his first start of the season, had five for Cal, including a late 3-pointer, while Robert Thurman picked up a loose ball and scored with six seconds remaining to put the Bears up 29-27 at halftime.

Saturday, January 12, 2013 @ 3:42pm

Golden Bears overcome drought to hold off Cougars

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) - California head coach Mike Montgomery isn't going to make any apologies for the way his team has to grind out games these days.

With little scoring punch beyond the tandem of Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs, it's the way the Golden Bears are going to have to do things.

Tyrone Wallace scored a season-high 16 points, Cobbs made six free throws in the final two minutes and California played solid defense in the second half to overcame a sloppy offensive performance and beat Washington State 67-54 on Saturday.

The Bears (10-6, 2-2 Pac-12) won despite committing 19 turnovers, giving up 21 offensive rebounds and being held without a basket over the final 4:59.

"Get used to it fellas, it ain't changing," Montgomery said of his team's style. "We have to do what we have to do. We're not going to go out there and all of a sudden turn into the `76 Knicks. It's just not happening."

Cal shot well when it could hold onto the ball but had trouble getting the ball inside and couldn't run its offense consistently enough.

That allowed Washington State (9-7, 0-3) to stick close deep into the second half until the Bears went 11 of 12 at the free-throw line down the stretch to seal the win.

"We just told each other we gotta get serious if we want to make a run at the Pac-12, like we're capable of doing," said Crabbe, who had 14 points. "We have all the weapons that we need to be successful. We all have to get on the same page."

Cobbs finished with 10 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Bears, who won for just the fourth time in 10 games after opening the season 6-0.

It definitely wasn't pretty, though Wallace managed to stand out after being pulled from the starting lineup for missing the morning shootaround.

Wallace, a freshman who had been shut out in his previous two games at Haas Pavilion, had seven points in the first half but did his most effective work down the stretch.

After Royce Woolridge's 3-pointer pulled the Cougars within 52-49 with 5:50 remaining, Wallace grabbed a long offensive rebound and scored on a driving layup. He followed with a short jumper then blocked a Brock Motum layup attempt from behind before adding three free throws as part of a 9-1 run in the final minutes.

"We're aware of how good a player he is," Washington State head coach Ken Bone said of Wallace. "They're more than just Cobbs and Crabbe. They showed that tonight with Wallace."

California tied a team record with 11 blocked shots, with a career-high six from Richard Solomon.

The Bears needed every one to hold off a pesky Washington State team that shot just 33.3 percent for the game but was within 58-51 with 3 1 /2 minutes to play.

But the Cougars went cold following a putback by Mike Ladd and managed only four baskets over the final 12 minutes while losing its third straight following a five-game winning streak.

"We were sort of out of sync on offense," said Motum, who had 16 points. "They have a lot of length inside. They blocked a few shots and maybe we got timid."

Ladd had 12 points and 12 rebounds for Washington State, and Woolridge also scored 12.

Neither team played well during a sloppy, mistake-filled first half.

Cal went 9 of 12 from the floor but committed 10 turnovers and was consistently outworked in the paint and outhustled for loose balls. Crabbe, coming off a season-low nine points in the Bears 62-47 loss to Washington on Wednesday, got off to another slow start and had just four points before the break.

Washington State wasn't much better, shooting only 35.7 percent and going 1 of 8 on 3s. Motum had 10 points in the first half, but he also had two turnovers.

Jeff Powers, making his first start of the season, had five for Cal, including a late 3-pointer, while Robert Thurman picked up a loose ball and scored with six seconds remaining to put the Bears up 29-27 at halftime.

Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 10:42am

Washington St releases football schedule

The Cougars announced their football schedule on Thursday. The 12-game schedule features six home games, including a Sept. 28 match with Stanford in Seattle.

The other home games are Sept. 14 against Southern Utah; Sept. 21 against Idaho; Oct. 12 against Oregon State; Oct. 31 against Arizona State and Nov. 23 against Utah.

Road games are at Southern California, at California, at Oregon, at Arizona and at Washington.

The bye weeks are Oct. 26 and Nov. 9.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013 @ 8:25pm

Stanford defeats Washington State 78-67

Chasson Randle added 16 points for the Cardinal (10-6, 1-2 Pac-12), who ended a two-game slide.

Brock Motum matched his season-high with 29 points to lead the Cougars (9-6, 0-2). Mike Ladd added 15 points.

The largest lead for either team was six points until Stanford began pulling away in the final minutes.

D.J. Shelton hit consecutive 3-pointers for Washington State to tie the game at 37 with just under 13 minutes to play.

The lead changed hands six times afterward.

Stanford led 27-23 at halftime after Randle and Bright each hit a 3-pointer in the last five minutes.

This was the fifth game involving the Cougars that neither team scored more than 27 points in the first half.

It was a first for Stanford.

Tuesday, January 8, 2013 @ 12:45pm

Pac-12 study finds no abuse in WSU football

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - A Pac-12 investigation found no evidence of physical or mental abuse of players in the Washington State football program under coach Mike Leach, the league said Tuesday

The findings of the independent review mirrored the findings of Washington State's own internal review of the allegations, which was released last month.

Former Washington State receiver Marquess Wilson contended near the end of last football season that players were suffering physical and mental abuse at the hands of coaches. Wilson, who quit the team, subsequently recanted his allegations.

But university President Elson Floyd asked the school and the Pac-12 to investigate the charges anyway.

"I am pleased with the outcome of both reviews," Floyd said in a press release Tuesday. "The well-being of all WSU students is our highest priority and it was important to take seriously allegations against the program."

The Pac-12 report was compiled after 20 interviews with coaches, players, parents of players and athletic department staff members.

Wilson, the leading receiver in Washington State history, contended in a letter sent to journalists on Nov. 10 that he quit the team prior to the UCLA game as a protest to "physical, emotional and verbal abuse" by the coaching staff. He complained that coaches would "belittle, intimidate and humiliate us." He did not provide details.

The same night he sent the letter, Wilson sent a text message to athletic director Bill Moos in which he recanted those allegations.

Leach also has denied the allegations of abuse.

The Pac-12 investigation was conducted by the law firm of Bond Schoeneck & King of Overland Park, Kan. Investigators interviewed Wilson, who told them there was no physical abuse.

"I wasn't trying to accuse anybody of abuse," the report quoted Wilson as saying. "I mean, they never touched us."

Wilson said he was just trying to explain why he quit the team.

"I definitely could have used a different word," Wilson said. "I couldn't think of anything or another word at the time I was writing it."

Leach told investigators that Wilson "never worked hard" and was criticized by coaches for that.

Moos, the athletic director, said the release of the Pac-12 report should bring an end to the issue.

"My support for Mike Leach and his methods and his plan have never wavered," Moos told reporters. "I'm even more enthused about the path we are on.

Leach was fired from Texas Tech after the 2009 season after claims that he mistreated a player suffering from a concussion. Leach disputed the allegation and it was not proven. Leach has sued Texas Tech, contending he was fired so the school could avoid a large payment that was due to him at the end of that year.