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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, March 9, 2008

Seniors come to Washington State's rescue

By Nicholas K. Geranios
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Washington State senior guard Derrick Low hits a jumper over the defense of Washington guard Ryan Appleby in the first half. Low finished with 16 points and the Cougars won, 76-73.

DEAN HARE | Associated Press

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PULLMAN, Wash. — The three seniors who rescued Washington State basketball were called on one more time, in their final home game at Friel Court.

Kyle Weaver scored 20 points, 'Iolani grad Derrick Low scored 16 and Robbie Cowgill came up huge at the end, as No. 23 Washington State held off Washington, 76-73, in double overtime last night to clinch third place in the Pac-10.

Coach Tony Bennett said it was a fitting home finale for a group of players who turned Washington State from perennial losers into a Top 25 team that has now beaten archrival Washington seven straight times.

"They had to scrap and fight for everything, that's the way it's been for Cougar basketball," Bennett said. "It's fitting. Man, we'll miss those guys."

Taylor Rochestie scored eight of his 16 points in overtime as Washington State (23-7, 11-7) won at least 11 Pac-10 games for the second consecutive season, the first time in program history that has happened.

Ryan Appleby missed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have tied the game in the second overtime for Washington (16-15, 7-11). Jon Brockman, the Huskies' best player, went down hard after battling for a rebound late in the second overtime and had to be helped off the court.

He was seen leaving Friel Court on crutches. Coach Lorenzo Romar would say only that Brockman, who averages 17 points and leads the Pac-10 with 11.6 rebounds per game, had an ankle injury. His status for the conference tournament was unclear.

"I'm really proud of our team," Romar said. "We have grown up out on the court and are playing our best basketball right now."

Washington State scored the first four points of the second overtime, on a free throw by Weaver and a three-point play by Aron Baynes.

Appleby's 3-pointer pulled Washington within 71-70, but Cowgill, who finished with 10 points, hit a jumper for a 73-70 lead, then Washington State got free throws from Baynes and Rochestie to push the lead to six.

Appleby made another 3-pointer to pull Washington to 76-73 with 41 seconds left. Washington State used up time on its possession, but eventually turned the ball over with less than 10 seconds left. Appleby's long 3-point at the buzzer missed.