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Weaver's 17 points leads Washington State past USC

Feb 10, 2008 - 2:55 AM PULLMAN, Washington (Ticker) -- Kyle Weaver and Washington State got back on the winning track.

Weaver scored 17 points and was perfect from the field as the 17th-ranked Cougars defeated Southern California, 74-50, in a Pac-10 Conference contest on Saturday.

Taylor Rochestie scored 13 points and Derrick Low had 10 for Washington State (18-5, 6-5 Pac-10), which snapped a three-game losing streak.

It was the Cougars' first three-game slump since losing seven straight at the end of the 2005-06 season.

"I don't think we were shaken and rattled too bad (over the losing streak)," Washington State coach Tony Bennett said. "But the timing after dropping three at home was important."

Weaver said that before the game, coach Bennett didn't say a word to the team.

"He wrote 'Now is the time' on the board and walked out," Weaver said. "This was one of the first times we actually got ourselves a little riled up to play before a game."

The Cougars, who have won nine of their last 11 meetings with the Trojans, had a 29-19 lead at th break and cruised the rest of the way.

Weaver, who made all eight of his field goals, had nine of his total in the first half. The 6-6 senior scored seven of Washington State's first 11 points and his first basket of the game gave him 1,000 points for his career, becoming the 29th Cougar to reach that milestone.

The Cougars broke the game open near the midway mark of the second half.

After a jumper by freshman O.J. Mayo cut USC's deficit to 39-29 with 6:06 expired, Washington State went on an 8-2 spurt that was capped by foul shots by Rochestie. Weaver had a layup in th burst for the Cougars, who shot 60 percent (28-of-47).

Weaver also did an excellent defensive job on Mayo, holding the standout to 6-of-15 shooting and six points under his season scoring average with 14.

"I wanted to make everything tough for O.J. tonight," Weaver said.

"I was trying to get to the foul line all night against Weaver," said Mayo, who made one of two free throws. "We just lost our poise."

It was not just the players that lost their poise, as USC coach Tim Floyd was ejected with 4:49 remaining after he jumped from his seat and onto the court to argue a lack of a foul call on a drive by Mayo.

"I can't talk about the officiating because I want to coach the next game," Floyd said. "I'm getting too old to get kicked out of games. I don't know what happened tonight. I must have got a good night's sleep."

Davon Jefferson had 13 points and eight rebounds for the Trojans (15-8, 6-5), who shot 46 percent (21-of-46).