Pointer’s Record Day Leads Washington State : Pacific 10: He scores three times, sets a mark for receiving yards in a 44-25 victory over Arizona State.

Deron Pointer caught three touchdown passes from Mike Pattinson as Washington State beat Arizona State, 44-25, Saturday in a Pacific 10 Conference game.

Pointer caught 10 passes for 255 yards, breaking the school record of 252 receiving yards set by Gail Cogdill against Northwestern in 1958.

Washington State, 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-10, entered the game with concerns about its offense, but Pattinson completed 24 of 39 passes for 407 yards and three touchdowns.

Arizona State (2-3, 0-2) was hounded by the Cougars’ defense, which sacked Sun Devil starter Grady Benton four times, including three by defensive end Ray Hall in the first half.

Benton was replaced in the second half by Jake Plummer, who was 16 for 30 for 248 yards.

The Cougars also kept Arizona State defensive end Shante Carver away from Pattinson. Carver, who had 10 sacks against Washington State the last three seasons, had none this game.

Pointer had scoring receptions of 53, 50 and 24 yards. Kevin Hicks also ran 28 yards for a touchdown.

Aaron Price kicked field goals from 37, 31 and 35 yards.

Washington State took a 23-7 halftime lead on two Pattinson-to-Pointer touchdown passes and Price’s field goals.

Arizona State answered in the third quarter with Mario Bates’ one-yard scoring run and Jon Baker’s 21-yard field goal.

Pattinson’s touchdown strike to Pointer with 11:30 remaining in the fourth quarter put the Cougars out of reach at 30-16.