PULLMAN, Wash. — No. 4 Washington State finished its nonconference season undefeated for the first time in seven decades.

Big deal.

Washington State (12-0) overwhelmed many of the nondescript teams on its schedule, and things will be much tougher when Pacific-10 play begins next week.

"It's time. We don't need any more nonconference games," Cougars coach Tony Bennett said after the Cougars routed North Carolina A&T, 67-34, holding the Aggies 42 points below their season average and forcing 19 turnovers.

Washington State came into the game leading the nation in defense, allowing just 51 points per game. They have beaten six opponents by at least 20 points, and have allowed only one opponent, Boise State, to score more than 70 points this season.

Their toughest games were a 3-point win at Baylor and a 4-point win at Gonzaga. The Cougars have played only four home games, unusual for a major conference team.

"Now it's really going to step up," he said. "We aren't going to hold teams in our league to 40 points."

The Cougars rolled to a 33-12 halftime lead and then outscored the Aggies 20-4 to open the second half. 'Iolani alum Derrick Low had 19 points to lead all scorers, while Aron Baynes added 10 points and eight rebounds.

Bennett gave his bench plenty of minutes, and the Cougars ended up shooting 47 percent and committing only eight turnovers.

Little-used Caleb Forrest played 23 minutes because of an injury that sidelined Daven Harmeling, scoring eight points and grabbing seven rebounds.

"He doesn't look like poetry in motion," Bennett said. "But he is effective and efficient at times."

North Carolina A&T (5-8) shot just 25 percent in their lowest scoring output of the season.

Washington State has tied its best start since 1991-92. The school record is 17-0, set in 1914-15. It is the first time since the 1935-36 season the Cougars were undefeated in the nonconference season.

The game was decided early when the Cougars went on an 12-0 run for a 17-5 lead. They extended that to 33-12 at halftime and opened the second half with a 20-4 run.

NO. 16 BUTLER 57, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 55

Mike Green scored 21 points and, after Tyrone Green of the Salukis (5-6) missed the front end of a one-and-one with 24 seconds left, A.J. Graves sank a 35-foot shot at the buzzer to lift the Bulldogs (12-1) at Carbondale, Ill.

NO. 22 MISSISSIPPI 78, SOUTHERN MISS 58

Chris Warren scored 17 points, Dwayne Curtis added 15 and the Rebels (12-0) set a school record for consecutive wins to start the season with a rout of the Golden Eagles (8-5) at Southaven, Miss.

NO. 25 RHODE ISLAND 92, EASTERN MICHIGAN 75

Will Daniels and Jimmy Baron each scored 18 points, and the Rams (12-1), playing their first game as a Top 25 team since the 1998-99, defeated the Eagles (4-5) in the Islander Invitational at Corpus Christi, Tex.

WAC TEAMS

SAN JOSE STATE 76, PORTLAND STATE 73

DaShawn Wright had 16 points and six rebounds, Justin Graham added 15 points, and the Spartans (5-5) rallied from a 42-27 halftime deficit to beat the Vikings (7-7) at Portland, Ore.

OTHERS

WEBER STATE 62, SAN FRANCISCO 54

Steve Panos scored 13 points and the Wildcats (7-5) hit six straight free throws in the final minute at Ogden, Utah, to turn back the Dons (4-9) and Eddie Sutton, who took over as coach Wednesday night.

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