Washington State shuts down Arizona State

Washington State relied on the Pacific 10 Conference’s best defense to shut down Arizona State in a 59-47 victory Thursday night at Pullman, Wash.

The Cougars, 21-5 overall, 9-5 Pac-10, won their fourth in a row, the longest current streak in the conference.

They swept the two-game series with the Sun Devils (16-9, 6-7) for the second consecutive season.

Freshman James Harden, who averages 18 points, had 10 points to lead the Sun Devils, who were held 21 points below their season average.

Washington State, third in the nation in defense, giving up 55 points per game, held Arizona State to 33% shooting, including six for 25 from three-point range.

The Cougars won despite a late second-half scoring drought in which they were that saw them held without a basket for six minutes. They shot 43% but were 17 for 24 from the free-throw line.

A three-point basket by Ty Abbott, his first points of the night after scoring 30 in Arizona State’s previous game, brought the Sun Devils to within three points, 43-40, with 7:42 left. But they did not make another basket.

Washington 75, Arizona 66 -- Freshman point guard Venoy Overton scored a season-high 19 points to help the Huskies (15-12, 6-8) upset the Wildcats (16-10, 6-7) at Seattle.

Overton, who had 19 points in his previous six games combined, scored 15 in the second half.

Washington held the Wildcats’ star freshman Jerryd Bayless to 22 points on six-for-18 shooting.