Another loss for Arizona

No. 18 Washington State defeated 20th-ranked Arizona, 72-66, on Thursday night at Tucson, completing the Cougars’ first season sweep of the Wildcats since 1983.

Washington State, 18-4 overall, 7-3 in the Pacific 10 conference, won for only the fourth time in 48 games against Arizona Coach Lute Olson. The Wildcats have lost six of their last eight.

The Cougars blew an eight-point second-half lead, falling behind, 57-56, with 7:44 to go. But they went on an 8-0 run and then kept the Wildcats at bay with their aggressive defense, holding them without a basket for more than six minutes down the stretch.

Arizona (14-7, 5-5) had pulled the score to 66-64 when the Cougars’ Daven Harmeling made a three-point basket with 19 seconds left. After the Wildcats’ Marcus Williams made two free throws, Harmeling scored on a breakaway layup and drew a foul with seven seconds left.

Washington State, which beat Arizona, 77-73, in overtime Jan. 6 at Pullman, was looking for its first season sweep of the Wildcats since 1982-83, the year before Olson arrived in Tucson. That was also the last time the Cougars finished ahead of the Wildcats in the Pac-10.

Washington 66, Arizona State 61 -- The Huskies (14-7, 4-6) won their first conference road game of the season and notched their ninth consecutive victory over the Sun Devils (6-15, 0-10).

Justin Dentmon made two free throws with 24 seconds left to help seal the victory for Washington.

Arizona State played the last 13:16 without Coach Herb Sendek, who was ejected after being assessed two technical fouls after a call against the Sun Devils on a loose ball. Associate head coach Mark Phelps ran the team for the rest of the game.