Cougs’ Outside Shot Falls Short Undefeated Stanford Snuffs Bid For Upset

Washington State carried out most of its game plan against fifth-ranked Stanford, with one glaring exception: The Cougars couldn’t hit an outside jump shot.

Even if they had, the outcome might have remained unchanged. That’s because the Cardinal continued to show remarkable resourcefulness Thursday night, overcoming their own perimeter woes while answering every WSU challenge en route to an 82-72 men’s basketball victory at Friel Court.

Chris Crosby, one of WSU’s best outside shooters this season, made only 2 of 16 field goals, typifying the Cougars’ troubles against the best defensive team in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Stanford, now 17-0 overall and 6-0 in the Pac-10, kept alive the nation’s longest winning streak.

“We felt that we accomplished quite a bit of what we felt we had to accomplish to be successful,” WSU coach Kevin Eastman said. “Anywhere from going right at (center) Tim Young to paying attention to their 3s to contesting shots and hoping that our interior players shot the ball well, which they did.

“We just didn’t get the production from the perimeter. I don’t know if we’re ever going to see Chris Crosby go 2 for 16.”

Crosby, a 6-foot-7 sophomore, made only 1 of 12 from 3-point range, including two misses in the game’s final seconds.

Carlos Daniel led WSU (7-9, 1-5) with 25 points and 16 rebounds. Young, Stanford’s 7-foot-1 center, had 13 points and four rebounds before leaving the game with an injured ankle with 3:53 remaining in the game.

Young is expected to miss Saturday’s game at Washington.

Forward Peter Sauer had 18 points and was one of five Cardinal players to reach double figures. Forward Pete Van Elswyk played at least as well, getting 11 points and 10 rebounds - including five at the offensive end.

“Van Elswyk is one of the best offensive-rebounding forwards in the nation,” Eastman said. “He killed UCLA in terms of getting some stickbacks.”

Stanford survived an off night from shooting guard Kris Weems, who hit just 5 of 17 field goals and finished with 12 points.

Point guard Arthur Lee added 13 points, making all eight free-throw attempts. Stanford made 25 of 37 free throws overall, including 9 of 13 as the Cougars were forced to foul during the final 1:20.

WSU made a late run after Stanford took a 71-53 lead on Van Elswyk’s putback basket with 5:38 remaining.

The Cougars got as close as 73-67 with 1:50 remaining. WSU made 10 free throws during the run, which included several questionable decisions by Stanford.

The most egregious came with 1:50 remaining, when Weems, having just been whistled for fouling Kab Kazadi, earned a technical foul by protesting the call.

Kazadi made 1 of 2 free throws and Kojo Mensah-Bonsu hit both technical shots, trimming the lead to six and giving WSU possession on the sideline.

“We did some things a smart team just doesn’t do,” Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said.

The Cougars could not capitalize, however, as Daniel was promptly whistled for traveling. Sauer followed with two free throws before Crosby missed his 10th 3-point try, and WSU was unable to threaten again.

“They’re just a good team,” Daniel said. “They deserve their ranking. Good teams are supposed to take whatever the other team throws at them, and they did that.

“That’s a credit to their coaching.”

Montgomery thought his team played without emotion, but Daniel didn’t see much of a drop-off.

“This is my fourth year going against Stanford and they’ve never been a real exciting team where they’re dunking, running and guys are getting excited,” Daniel said. “But they’ve always had a sustained intensity that they carry over 40 minutes, and when they had to bear down and play hard, they did that.”

California is next for WSU. The Bears visit Friel Court on Saturday. Tipoff is at 7:35. The game will be televised by Fx.

The Stanford game, televised live on Fox Sports Net, drew 4,744.

Stanford 82, Washington St. 72

Stanford (17-0) - Sauer 5-11 6-9 18, Van Elswyk 4-10 3-4 11, Young 5-6 3-3 13, Weems 5-17 1-2 12, Lee 2-5 8-8 13, McDonald 0-0 0-0 0, Moseley 2-5 2-5 7, Collins 2-2 1-4 5, Mendez 0-1 0-0 0, Tshiony 0-1 0-0 0, Seaton 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 26-60 25-37 82.

Washington St. (8-9) - Daniel 9-15 7-10 25, Crosby 2-16 2-2 7, Nelson 4-6 2-2 10, Pengelly 2-5 3-4 9, Kazadi 3-10 2-4 10, Hutchens 0-1 0-0 0, Mensah-Bonsu 2-7 4-4 8, Stewart 0-0 0-0 0, Slotemaker 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 23-62 20-26 72.

Halftime-Stanford 82, Washington St. 72. 3-Point goals-Stanford 5-18 (Sauer 2-5, Lee 1-2, Moseley 1-4, Weems 1-7), Washington St. 6-24 (Pengelly 2-4, Kazadi 2-6, Slotemaker 1-2, Crosby 1-12). Fouled out-Weems, Pengelly, Mensah-Bonsu. Rebounds-Stanford 42 (Van Elswyk 10), Washington St. 40 (Daniel 16). Assists-Stanford 12 (Young, Weems 3), Washington St. 12 (Pengelly 6). Total fouls-Stanford 24, Washington St. 26. Technicals-Weems, Mensah-Bonsu. A-4,744.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo