Huskies blown out by Cougs, 75-47

PULLMAN, Wash.-- Derrick Low scored 20 points and Washington State shut down Washington's high-powered offense for a 75-47 victory on Saturday that kept the Cougars in the hunt for their first Pacific-10 championship.

Washington State (16-3, 5-2 Pac-10) won its third straight over the rival Huskies, after sweeping them last year, to rebound from an overtime loss at Stanford last week that knocked them out of the Top 25.

Washington (11-7, 1-6), playing without leading scorer Spencer Hawes, lost its third game in a row and has lost all six of its road games this season.

Washington State, playing before the biggest home crowd in 24 years, jumped to an early lead and held Washington scoreless for nearly 9 minutes in the first half to take a surprisingly easy win.

Washington came in averaging 83.4 points per game, 11th in the nation. Washington State leads the Pac-10 in defense, allowing 58 ppg. Washington's lowest output of the season had been 64 against Arizona State.

Hawes, averaging 15.2 points per game, injured his ankle in practice Friday and did not play. Forward Quincy Pondexter, also slowed by an ankle injury, led the Huskies with 16 points.

Kyle Weaver scored 17 points for Washington State, making 7-of-8 shots, and added 8 rebounds. Ivory Clark had 10 points for the Cougars, who shot 53 percent in the game.

Jon Brockman added 13 points for Washington, which made just 15-of-53 shots for 28 percent.

Low scored nine points as the Cougars jumped to a 17-8 lead.

After a pair of Washington baskets, the Cougars went on a 15-0 run, with five different players scoring, for a 32-12 lead.

Washington made just 4 of its first 20 shots in the game, and was held scoreless for nearly 9 minutes during the Washington State run. Justin Dentmon's 3-pointer with 2:33 left in the half finally broke the Washington drought, making it 32-15.

A pair of 3-pointers by Ryan Appleby and a layup by Pondexter allowed Washington to close to within 34-23 at halftime.

But the Cougars opened the second half with a 21-4 run, behind a trio of 3-pointers and a regular basket by Low, for a 55-27 lead that killed any hopes of a Washington comeback. Low made 5-of-7 3-pointers in the game.

It was Washington State's biggest margin of victory ever over Washington, topping a 75-51 win in 1994.

Washington leads the overall series 167-94.

Washington State has not had a winning season since 1995-96, and this is the Cougars' most wins since that team went 18-11.

Washington State is 8-0 at home this season.

The crowd of 11,618 was the largest at Friel Court since 12,000 came to watch UCLA in 1983.