Final
for this game
Washington State nears first conference title appearance
Mar 14, 2008 - 2:40 PM No. 21 Washington St (24-7) at No. 11 Stanford (25-6) 11:30 pm EDTLOS ANGELES (Ticker) - After limited success in the history of the Pac-10 tournament, Washington State is in the semifinals for the second straight year. This time around, it would like to do something it has never done - take the next step.
To make its first Pac-10 tournament final in school history, the 21st-ranked Cougars will target a rare win against No. 11 Stanford in a semifinal matchup on Friday.
Washington State, which lost to Southern California in last season's conference semifinals, have put together consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in 66 years.
The Cougars opened this tournament run with a quarterfinal win over defending conference tournament champion Oregon on Thursday, 75-70. Senior guard Derrick Low scored 18 points while junior guard Taylor Rochestie added 16 for Washington State.
In the previous 10 years this conference tournament has existed (1987-90; 2002-08), the Cougars had won just two games in the previous nine season before last season's run. However, a trip to this season's final would mean downing a Cardinal team that has defeated them 23 of the last 26 times they have met.
Stanford defeated Washington State, 67-65, in overtime on February 2 and followed that with a 60-53 home win on March 1.
The Cardinal are making their first semifinals appearance since 2005 following their 75-64 quarterfinal victory over Arizona on Thursday and are seeking their first trip to the Pac-10 Championship game since winning the title in 2004.
Twin brothers Brook and Robin Lopez had 20 and 14 points, respectively, for Stanford to snap its two-game losing streak.
- PAC 10 TOURNAMENT
AT LOS ANGELES
NCAA BB PAC 10 TOURNAMENT
FINAL 1ST 2ND TOTAL
--- --- -----
WASHINGTON ST (21) 30 38 68
STANFORD (11) 34 41 75 FINAL
Mar 15 1:53 AM - 73
rootsRUWTbot Took away 27 roots (Close Finish, Upset, Ranked Teams)
Washington State(21) 68, Stanford(11) 73 2nd - 0:14Mar 15 1:52 AM - 100
rootsRUWTbot Added 46 roots (Close Finish, Upset, Ranked Teams)
Washington State(21) 68, Stanford(11) 71 2nd - 0:24Mar 15 1:49 AM - 54
rootsRUWTbot Added 16 roots (Close Finish, Ranked Teams)
Washington State(21) 64, Stanford(11) 69 2nd - 1:03Mar 15 1:43 AM - PAC 10 TOURNAMENT
AT LOS ANGELES
NCAA BB (21) WASHINGTON ST 30
(11) STANFORD 34 HALFTIME
Mar 15 12:32 AM - 33
rootsRUWTbot Added 18 roots (Ranked Teams)
Washington State(21) 0, Stanford(11) 0 1st - 19:55Mar 14 11:47 PM
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