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Washington hosts Arizona State in Pac-10 showdown

Feb 26, 2009 - 11:23 AM No. 11 Arizona State (21-5) at No. 21 Washington (20-7), 11:00 p.m. EST

SEATTLE (Ticker) -- First place in the Pac-10 Conference will be on the line when No. 11 Arizona State visits 21st-ranked Washington on Thursday.

The Sun Devils (21-5, 10-4 Pac-10) enter the contest one-half game behind the Huskies (20-7, 11-4) in the conference with four games remaining. Washington has three conference games left.

Since losing to Washington, 84-71, on January 31, Arizona State has reeled off five straight wins, which includes a 70-68 victory over Arizona on Sunday. Jeff Pendergraph made the go-ahead free throws with 26 seconds left.

James Harden scored 18 points and Rihards Kuksiks added 17 in the win for the Sun Devils, who made 10-of-16 from the arc in the first half.

The Huskies, who are opening a season-ending, four-game homestand, are coming off a 60-51 triumph at Southern California on Saturday. Quincy Pondexter was the only player in double figures for Washington with 22 points.

Freshman Isaiah Thomas is averaging 15.9 points per game and Justin Dentmon is scoring 15.8 per contest to lead the Huskies, who average a conference-best 79.4 points.

Arizona State is second in the Pac 10 in points allowed at 58.9 points per contest.

Washington has never won a conference title outright since it captured the Pacific Coast Conference in 1953.

The Sun Devils have never finished higher than second place in the Pac-10 since they joined the conference in 1979.