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Low, Washington St. pound North Carolina A&T

Dec 29, 2007 - 6:38 AM PULLMAN, Washington (Ticker) -- Derrick Low and Washington State appear ready to begin Pac-10 play.

Low scored 19 points as the fourth-ranked Cougars continued their undefeated start with a lopsided 67-34 victory over North Carolina A&T on Friday.

In its final warmup before traveling to in-state rival Washington on January 5, Washington State (12-0) put the clamps on North Carolina A&T, holding the Mid-Eastern Conference squad to a season low in points.

Mustering just 12 points in the first half, the Aggies finished 12-of-43 (28 percent) from the field and 3-of-13 on 3-pointers.

In continuing their reputation as one of the top defensive teams in the nation, the Cougars are off to the school's best start since the 1991-92 edition also began 12-0.

The school record for most wins to start a season is 17, set in 1914-15.

With North Carolina A&T having a difficult time, Low and Washington State had no problem building up a big lead.

The senior guard completed a three-point play for a 12-5 lead with under seven minutes expired and connected on one of his four 3-pointers to make it 27-9 with 3:27 left before intermission.

Low finished with 11 points in the first half and Aron Baynes added eight of his 10 points before the break for the Cougars, who went to their bench for most of the second half.

Prior to turning the game over to the reserves, Washington State made its nine shots after the break, pulling ahead 53-16 with 13:59 remaining behind a 20-4 run. It did not experience its first miss until there were just over seven minutes expired in the second.

Backup center Caleb Forrest finished with eight points and seven rebounds for Washington State, which finished 47 percent (26-of-55) from the field.

Baynes grabbed eight rebounds for the Cougars, who made the most of their nine offensive rebounds, turning them into 15 second-chance points.

Steven Rush ended up with eight points for North Carolina A&T (5-8), which has lost all four of its games against ranked opponents this season, including a 95-64 decision at then-No. 22 Miami on Sunday.

Overall, the Aggies are 0-34 all-time against ranked teams.