Steve Bergum

Washington's sophomore star Eumarkjah Sanford is rising to the top ranks of Pac-10 Conference basketball players. Photo by Associated Press

(Jackson)

Three weeks ago, before Mark Hendrickson broke his hand, Washington State could have mailed in a win over Oregon State. Even as little as three days ago, before Donminic Ellison was suspended indefinitely for academic reasons, there probably wasn't much anxiety over playing the Beavers - even at Gill Coliseum.

There was a hint of disgust in Kevin Eastman's voice Thursday night as he briefly discussed the suspension of point guard Donminic Ellison in the wake of Washington State's 70-63 loss to Oregon. The Cougars' second-year coach probably hoped Ellison had been huddled near a radio back in Pullman, listening to UO's late-game trashing of the teammates he once again let down.

Oregon, taking advantage of an under-manned Washington State team and a McArthur Court crowd that refused to let it surrender, rallied from a nine-point second-half deficit Thursday night to beat the Cougars 70-63. Junior point guard Kenya Wilkins, taking advantage of the absence of WSU's Donminic Ellison, scored 20 points and hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to help the Ducks, 9-4 overall, to their second Pacific-10 Conference win in as many games.

College basketball coaches scout, study, plan, prepare, practice, rationalize and then worry like hell. Players? They just play.

Earlier reports that Mark Hendrickson's broken hand might mend in time for next weekend's showdown against archrival Washington now seem to have been overly optimistic. Hendrickson said Tuesday he sees no way he can be ready for Washington State's Jan. 21 game against the Huskies in Seattle. "I'd have to be able to do stuff, like some light shooting and passing, this week and then maybe get a couple of good practices in the next week before I could (play against UW)," explained the 6-foot-9 senior, who broke the fifth metacarpal just above his left wrist in a 90-74 win over San Jose State on Dec. 27.

1. Washington State's Cameron Johnson, left, battles for loose ball with UCLA's omm'A Givens in the Pac-10 opener for both schools at the Arena. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. WSU's Carlos Daniel, left, tries to contain UCLA's Toby Bailey. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review 3. Charles O'Bannon gets the jam on WSU's Cameron Johnson, but also gets a technical for hanging on the rim. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

UCLA coach Jim Harrick and his NCAA defending champs meet Washington State tonight at the Arena. Photo by Associated Press

Hendrickson

1. The Pac-10 title is within reach of Reggie Geary and the Arizona Wildcats. File/Associated Press 2. Forward Charles O'Bannon and defending NCAA champion UCLA hope to keep the upper hand when the Pac-10 begins conference play. File/Associated Press

After years of being snubbed by Notre Dame's powerful football program, UCLA has finally struck back - through its powerful men's basketball program. The defending national champion Bruins have pulled the plug on their long-standing basketball rivalry with the Fighting Irish, officially citing a desire to expand their opponent base as the reason behind a recent decision to drop Notre Dame off future basketball schedules.

Things seemed to come much too easily way too early for Washington State against Montana Wednesday night. And in the end, the Cougars were forced to step back and take a couple of deep breaths and hard swallows before finally subduing the remarkably stubborn and resilient Grizzlies 98-87 in front of a Friel Court crowd of 4,059.

Washington State's Kevin Eastman took the news about the early reinstatement of California's Tremaine Fowlkes quite well, considering he will be the first coach forced to deal with the considerable talents of the Golden Bears' super sophomore this season. The NCAA's eligibility committee announced late last week that it was reducing Fowlkes' season-long suspension for illegal dealings with a former agent to just 14 games. That means the 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward, who was the Pacific-10 Conference freshman of the year last year, will regain his eligibility just in time for Cal's Jan. 25 matchup against WSU in Pullman.

Washington State won't exactly ease into either its football or men's basketball schedules next year, according to announcements made Wednesday by university officials. Athletic director Rick Dickson confirmed that the football team will open its 1996 schedule Aug. 31 with a non-conference game at Colorado.

WSU's Isaac Fontaine (22), Tavares Mack track down rebound as Jason Cipolia (35), Syracuse close in on 77-75 win. Photo by Associated Press

They did their best to avoid mentioning the S- word, at least until they had taken care of some unsettled business with Canisius. But after dusting off the Golden Griffins 73-62 in Friday's opening round of the Carrier Classic, the Washington State Cougars shared their feelings about what they've wanted all along - a chance to play against an East Coast college basketball power like Syracuse in one of the most acclaimed venues in the country.

Washington State's Carlos Daniel is fouled on his drive by Canisius' Michael Meeks in WSU's 73-62 win Friday. Photo by Associated Press

The last time Washington State ventured to the East to play basketball, the Cougars made it as far as Buffalo, N.Y., before running into a hostile Canisius crowd and a hot Golden Griffins team that knocked them out of the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament last March. Coach Kevin Eastman's team (2-0) heads back to the Empire State this week to compete in Syracuse's four-team Carrier Classic, and dumb luck has paired WSU against Canisius in Friday night's opening round.

Davis

WSU basketball coach Kevin Eastman's No. 1 goal for his team is to stay focused during its long layoff. File/The Spokesman-Review

This wasn't quite how Steve Aggers envisioned his debut when he signed on as Eastern Washington's men's basketball coach last May. Sure, he knew it wouldn't be pretty, opening on the road against a veteran Washington State team that is picked to challenge for this year's Pacific-10 Conference title. Deep down, he probably even knew it wouldn't be close.

Mark Hendrickson leads WSU's attempted drive to the top in the Pacific-10 Conference this season. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Huskies' Rashaan Shehee directs traffic as teammate Cameron Cleeland takes out WSU's Johnny Nansen to help break Shehee for an 85-yard score. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review