Cougars Escape Vikings WSU Uses Height Advantage, Wins Ford Holiday Classic Opener

Chris Crosby scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half Saturday night as Washington State held on for a 77-72 victory over Portland State.

Rodrigo de la Fuente added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Cougars (6-3), who used a big size advantage to dominate the boards 43-30.

Jason Hartman, in just his fourth game after becoming eligible following his transfer from Washington, scored a career-high 24 points for Portland State (5-4), including consecutive 3-pointers that cut WSU’s lead to 65-64 with 2:26 to play. Brian Towne added 15 for the Vikings.

The game was the first half of a Rose Garden doubleheader billed as the Ford Holiday Classic. No. 7 Utah defeated Oregon State 69-61 in the second game.

Washington State led by many as 15 on three occasions, the last time at 54-39 on two free throws by de la Fuente with 13:43 left in the game.

Portland State, 1-3 against Pac-10 teams in the pre-conference season, outscored the Cougars 15-3 over an 8-minute, 14-second stretch late in the second half to pull within one, 65-64, on Hartman’s 3-pointer with 2:26 to play.

But Crosby scored on a rebound and Carlos Daniel added an inside basket to boost WSU’s lead to 69-64 with 1:45 remaining.

Portland State had one last gasp. With his team trailing 74-67 after de la Fuente made two free throws with 8.6 left, Towne scored on a drive and was fouled for a three-point play that cut the lead to 74-70 with 3.4 seconds remaining in the game.

De la Fuente was called for pushing off on the inbounds pass, and PSU’s Derek Nesland made both free throws to make it 74-72.

Blake Pengelly made one of two free throws for WSU with 1.4 seconds left, then de la Fuente scored after a Portland State turnover to clinch the victory.

Washington St. 77, Portland St. 72

Washington State (6-3) - Daniel 5-11 2-5 13, Crosby 7-14 0-1 18, Nelson 4-6 0-0 8, Pengally 3-5 1-2 10, de la Fuente 6-16 4-4 17, Kazadi 2-7 0-3 5, Mensah-Bonsu 2-3 0-0 4, Slotemaker 0-0 2-2 2. Totals 29-62 9-16 77.

Portland State (5-4) - Ambrose 2-5 5-6 10, Hartman 7-14 5-6 24, Sanford 2-5 0-0 4, Towne 5-10 3-6 15, Nesland 1-2 4-4 6, Rhymes 2-6 0-0 5, Mvogo 0-0 0-0 0, Snook 1-4 1-2 4, Price 0-1 0-0 0, Garner 0-1 0-0 0, Artharee 2-2 0-1 4. Totals 22-51 18-25 72.

Halftime - Washington State 40, Portland State 32. 3-Point goals - Washington State 10-22 (Crosby 4-9, Pengally 3-5, Daniel 1-1, Kazadi 1-3, de la Fuente 1-4), Portland State 10-21 (Hartman 5-9, Towne 2-4, Rhymes 1-1, Ambrose 1-2, Snook 1-3, Nesland 0-1, Price 0-1). Fouled out - Mensa-Bonsu. Rebounds - Washington State 43 (de la Fuente 13), Portland State 30 (Ambrose 7). Assists - Washington State 19 (Pengally 5), Portland State 15 (Ambrose, Nesland 4). Total fouls - Washington State 24, Portland State 15.