Wilkins Paces Ducks, Mack Leaves Cougars

Kenya Wilkins scored a season-high 24 points to lead five Oregon players in double figures Saturday night in a 93-82 victory over Washington State at Eugene, Ore.

The Cougars were again without forward Tavares Mack and, said Coach Kevin Eastman, for the last time.

Mack, who owns the school’s lifetime shooting percentage mark at 57.3% over a 104-game career, left the team after a Saturday morning meeting with Eastman, who had suspended him for 19 days in December for missing a practice.

This time, the separation is for good because Mack continued to lack motivation and passion for the game of basketball, Eastman said.

“Tavares needs to truly sort things out in terms of what he wants, truly wants from his life,” Eastman said in a news release. “There’s nothing wrong with admitting that you’ve lost interest in something.”

Mack was pictured on the cover of the team’s media guide this season and was expected to play a major role, but the 6-foot-9 forward averaged 5.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 16 games this season.

On Saturday night, Washington State had no answer when Oregon (14-6 overall, 5-6 in the Pacific 10) broke away from a 69-69 tie with a 9-0 run in the second half.

After Rob Ramaker scored and was fouled to put the Ducks ahead, 71-69, he missed the free throw, but tipped the rebound out to Jamar Curry, who sank a three-point basket to put Oregon ahead 74-69.

The Cougars (11-11, 3-8) got no closer than 82-78 the rest of the way, and Oregon made 11 of 14 free throws down the stretch to complete a home court sweep of the Washington schools.

Isaac Fontaine scored 25 points for Washington State, 17 in the first half when the Cougars battled Oregon to a 41-41 tie at the break.

Washington 87, Oregon State 78--Mark Sanford had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Huskies (13-6, 6-5) in a victory in Corvallis, Ore.

Washington took a 13-2 lead and never looked back.

Jan Wooten added 15 points, and Donald Watts and Chris Thompson each had 12 for Washington.

Corey Benjamin scored 19 and Terrill Woods 18 for Oregon State (6-14, 2-9).

The Beavers came within four points twice in the second half, the last time at 75-71 on two free throws by Woods with 4:07 to play.

But on Washington’s next possession, Thompson found Todd MacCulloch for a layup with 3:32 to play to boost the lead to 77-71.

Washington made six of 10 free throws down the stretch.

The Huskies dominated the rebounds, 43-22, offsetting 22 turnovers.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Pacific 10 Race

Conf.

*--*

Team W L UCLA 8 3 USC 8 3 Arizona 7 3 California 7 4 Stanford 6 5 Washington 6 5 Oregon 5 6 Arizona State 2 8 Washington State 3 8 Oregon State 2 9

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Overall

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Team W L UCLA 13 7 USC 13 7 Arizona 14 5 California 16 6 Stanford 13 6 Washington 13 6 Oregon 14 6 Arizona State 10 12 Washington State 11 11 Oregon State 6 14

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SATURDAY’S RESULTS

UCLA 87, Stanford 68

USC 93, California 85

Washington 87, Oregon St. 78

Oregon 93, Washington St. 82

TODAY’S GAME

Tulane at Arizona (Phoenix): 1:30 p.m.

MONDAY’S GAME

Cincinnati at Washington: 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY’S GAME

Washington St. at Idaho: 7 p.m.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

USC at Arizona State: 7

Oregon at California: 7:30

Oregon State at Stanford: 7:30

UCLA at Arizona: 8:30

SATURDAY’S GAMES

UCLA at Arizona State: 2:30

USC at Arizona: 4:30

Oregon State at California: 7:30

Oregon at Stanford: 7:30

Washington St. at Washington: 7