Cougars hold off Huskies

Washington tried to take a page from Washington State’s defensive book, but it was the Cougars showing just how it’s done in the final minutes when it counts the most.

Aron Baynes scored 16 points, Kyle Weaver scored 11 of his 13 in the second half, and No. 4 Washington State beat Washington, 56-52, Saturday night at Seattle, its sixth consecutive win over the Huskies. It was the Pacific 10 Conference opener for both teams.

It’s the Cougars longest win streak over their rival since winning six in a row in 1941-42. And much like those games 66 years ago, this one was a physical, grind-it-out affair -- just the way the Cougars like it.

Trailing, 48-45, with 6:20 to go, the Cougars (13-0) scored 11 of the final 15 points, using an 8-0 spurt to take the lead on Taylor Rochestie’s runner with 3:04 left. From there, it became a free-throw shooting contest, and the Cougars held out, with Weaver making three of four attempts during the final 30 seconds.

Tim Morris led Washington with 16 points, but the transfer from Stanford was scoreless over the final 14 minutes.

Jon Brockman had 14 points and 17 rebounds, but the Huskies (9-5) saw their five-game win streak end.

Oregon 84, No. 21 Arizona 74 -- The Ducks played like the Pac-10 title contenders they are supposed to be.

“Finally,” said Coach Ernie Kent.

Malik Hairston tied his career high with 29 points and the Ducks shot 56% from the field to beat the Wildcats at Tucson for the second year in a row.

Oregon (10-4, 1-1) led by as many as 19 in the first half, and the Wildcats (10-4, 1-1) never got closer than five in the second.

“Hopefully, this is the win that can kick-start us into playing how we are accustomed to playing,” Kent said. “We looked like the Oregon of old today.”

Chase Budinger scored 30 points for the Wildcats, who were without leading scorer and point guard Jerryd Bayless for the third consecutive game because of a sprained right knee.

Arizona State 72, Oregon State 53 -- Freshman James Harden scored 24 points as the Sun Devils beat the Beavers at Tempe, Ariz., for their eighth consecutive victory.

Jeff Pendergraph had 18 points with nine rebounds and four blocked shots for the Sun Devils (12-2), who are off to their first 2-0 start in Pac-10 play since the 1987-88 season and their third since joining the conference 30 years ago.

Seth Tarver scored 14 for the Beavers (6-7, 0-2), who have lost four in a row and five of their last six.