Stanford holds on, wins

The other semifinal game in the Pacific 10 Conference tournament -- the one that did not involve a crosstown rivalry -- featured teams with something to prove.

Washington State possessed a national ranking and a desire to show that its emerging program belonged among the conference elite.

Stanford, which had lost nine of its last 10 games in Los Angeles, just wanted to win a big game in this city.

The 11th-ranked Cardinal prevailed, 75-68, in a game that stretched late into Friday night at Staples Center.

No. 21 Washington State made a game of it with some clutch outside shooting -- guard Kyle Weaver finished with 25 points -- and a characteristic brand of defense that bordered on frantic.

Stanford answered with something familiar.

The Cardinal relied on its 7-foot duo, the Lopez brothers. Brook led all scorers with 30 points and 12 rebounds. Robin contributed eight points.

So this is what UCLA will face in this afternoon’s championship game: A solid defensive team that likes to use its muscle and height inside.

It is a style of play that Stanford drifted away from in losses at UCLA and USC that ended the regular season last weekend and added to a three-year losing streak in Los Angeles.

But the Cardinal seems to have gotten back on track at the conference tournament.

A Thursday night win over Arizona broke the spell and, at the very least, meant they would not have to enter March Madness on a sour note.

As guard Mitch Johnson put it, “we definitely wanted to get our winning ways back before the NCAA tournament.”

On Friday night, they gradually built a lead in the first half.

Brook Lopez scored on a tip-in and a short jump shot. Robin made two layups. Together, they had 11 rebounds in the first 20 minutes.

Washington State could not have been too surprised after losing both regular-season games against Stanford.

Getting past the Cardinal and making it to the championship game would make the Cougars’ winning season “more special,” guard Derrick Low had said earlier this week.

His team did its best to keep pace, hitting a string of jump shots and turning up the volume on its trademark defense.

Stanford led, 34-30, at halftime.

That lead stayed intact into the second half, even with Low making three three-point baskets in a row.

Whenever Washington State drew close, Stanford had an answer.

Now Stanford has something else to prove: That it can play with the top-seeded Bruins.

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david.wharton@latimes.com