Inspired Cougars knock off Huskies, 80-69

Washington State 80, Washington 69

Date: February 27, 2011

Venue: Hec Edmundson Pavilion

City: Seattle

Attendance: 10,000

Washington State completed the season sweep of Washington with a controlling 80-69 win in Hec Edmundson Pavilion. Klay Thompson led all scorers with 26 points. Washington was atrocious from the field, particularly in the first half, continuing to have problems with the Cougars’ zone. Isaiah Thomas led Washington with 21 points. The loss put the Huskies’ NCAA Tournament participation in doubt among some pundits.

Star of the game
Klay Thompson The Washington State sharp-shooter scored 26 points on just 13 shots. Thompson made 13 of 14 free throws and recovered from a poor start to the game.

Play of the game
Washington State center DeAngelo Casto was credited with a basket on what appeared to be a continuation foul call. Washington coach Lorenzo Romar was called for a technical foul during his protest. Washington State used the exchange to bloat its second-half lead to 14 points.

Highlights

• Matthew Bryan-Amaning ran back to swat what looked to be a sure layup for Washington State’s Brock Motum.
• Klay Thompson had nice back-to-back assists to Brock Motum during a second-half run.
• DeAngelo Casto had a huge two-handed slam off a pass from Reggie Moore.

Lowlights

• Washington shot 1-for-13 in the first half from behind the 3-point line.
• Washington coach Lorenzo Romar received a technical foul with 16:51 remaining in the second half.
• Aziz N’Diaye was called for a lane violation, summing up how the night went for Washington.

Notable

• Aziz N’Diaye Scored six points and grabbed nine rebounds, but again ran into foul trouble.
• Terrence Ross Was 0-for-5 from the field continuing his late-season funk.
• C.J. Wilcox Started again and struggled again. Wilcox was 1-for-6 from the field.
• Darnell Gant Scored four points and added five rebounds, but turned it over three times.
• Venoy Overton Came off the bench to score eight points. Was called for a technical and fouled out.
• Justin Holiday Scored 11 points and provided five assists.
• Matthew Bryan-Amaning Finished with a double-double, 14 points and 10 rebounds, but was pulled early in the second half and benched for a long time.
• Isaiah Thomas Led Washington with 21 points. Added five assists and three rebounds.

Said

• “I think we have just as much talent if not more.” Klay Thompson, Washington State star, on why the Cougars swept Washington this year
• “I feel like our guys understood the performance we had at ASU is unacceptable.” Ken Bone, Washington State coach
• “There are a lot of things. We can go on and on about what happened in the game, but just not being able to go over the hump and win. I do think we fought back, but we didn’t fight enough.” Justin Holiday, Washington forward
• “Obviously that’s not how we scripted it.” Lorenzo Romar, Washington coach, on the start of the game.

Numbers

• 17. First-half points for Washington, a low since Lorenzo Romar has run the program.
• 0. First-half points for Matthew Bryan-Amaning.
• 7.7 Percentage Washington shot from behind the 3-point line in the first half, 1-for-13.
• 88.9. Percentage Washington State shot from the free-throw line.