JacketsOnline.com - Second Half Cougar Comeback Falls Short

December 31, 2010

CougZone News Services
WazzuWatch.com

The Washington State University Cougar men's hoop team was looking at d? vu all over again as yet another team appeared to be pulling away from the Cougars in the second half. But just as USC appeared to have the game in hand, Wazzu mounted a comeback that brought them to within a whisker of the Trojans. However, USC hung on and survived for a 60-56 win over the Cougars in Los Angeles. With the loss, the Cougars remain winless in conference play at 0-2 and drop to 10-4 overall on the year.

The Cougars and Trojans battled each other early with Wazzu taking a 13-11 lead midway through the first half. But that would be the last lead the Cougars would hold in the game as USC went on an 8-0 run to re-claim the lead. The Cougars cut into the Trojans lead and whittled it all the way down to a single point but USC took a 26-22 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Cougars fell behind by seven points early in the second half at 31-24 but a 10-4 run emphasized by a monster flying slam dunk from junior guard Klay Thompson and a timely three-ball from junior Abe Lodwick got them to within 35-34 with 14:17 remaining in the game. The Cougars could never get over the hump, however, as USC broke away from their grasp again and built their lead out to double digits at 58-47. Wazzu had one last gasp left in them though and the Cougars embarked on an 11-0 run with Lodwick hitting another timely three-ball to cut the Trojan lead to 58-56 with 1:19 left in the game. But with a chance to tie the game or take the lead on their next possession, Thompson and Lodwick combined on a turnover and USC converted a pair of free throws for the final margin.

Thompson and junior forward DeAngelo Casto were the only Cougars in double digits in scoring as Casto led with a season-high 18 points and Thompson chipped in 17 points.

NOTES

- Casto was a single point away from his career high of 19 points.

Washington State University continues their Pac-10 season with a game against Oregon State at 7PM on Thursday, January 6, at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman

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