Final
for this game
Washington State hopes for rare regional semifinals berth
Mar 22, 2008 - 1:40 PM No. 5 Notre Dame (25-7) vs. No. 4 Washington St (25-8) 6:40 pm EDTDENVER (Ticker) -- A dominating second half has Washington State in position to make its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals since 1941.
The fourth-seeded Cougars hope to accomplish that feat when they take on fifth-seeded Notre Dame in a second-round matchup out of the East Regional on Saturday.
Two days ago, Washington State (25-8) was tied at the half with Winthrop in the first round before outscoring the Eagles, 42-11, in the second half en route to a 71-40 victory.
"They had to earn everything," Washington State coach Tony Bennett said. "No second-chance points, no easy breakdowns on cross screens, no stuff all the ball screens. When we did that, they got a little cold, our offense caught fire."
Aron Baynes scored 19 points to lead the Cougars, who reached the second round last season before losing to Vanderbilt in double overtime.
The Fighting Irish (25-7) cruised to their first Tournament win since 2003 with a 68-50 victory over George Mason in the first round Thursday.
Luke Harangody, the Big East Conference Player of the Year, had 18 points and 14 rebounds to lead Notre Dame, which held the Patriots to just 33 percent (19-of-57) shooting.
The two schools have never met, and the winner will face either top-seeded North Carolina or No. 9 Arkansas in the "Sweet 16" next Thursday.
- EAST REGIONAL
AT DENVER
NCAA BB EAST REGIONAL
FINAL 1ST 2ND TOTAL
--- --- -----
NOTRE DAME (15) 19 22 41
WASHINGTON ST (21) 32 29 61 FINAL
Mar 22 8:49 PM - EAST REGIONAL
AT DENVER
NCAA BB (5) NOTRE DAME 19
(4) WASHINGTON ST 32 HALFTIME
Mar 22 7:34 PM
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