Oguchi sends WSU, Bennett packing from Pac-10

LOS ANGELES – Chamberlain Oguchi scored all but five of his career-high 26 points in the first half, and Oregon beat Washington State 66-55 Wednesday night in the first round of the Pac-10 men’s basketball tournament.

The game marked the end of Washington State coach Dick Bennett’s career. Bennett announced last week he would retire at the end of the season and turn the team over to his 36-year-old son, Tony.

The 62-year-old Bennett had a 36-49 record in three years at WSU, and an overall mark of 490-306 in 27-plus seasons.

Previously, he coached at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin, where he guided the Badgers to the Final Four in 2000.

Seventh-seeded Oregon (14-17) faces No. 12 Washington (24-5) in the quarterfinals tonight.

The second-seeded Huskies have won the last five games between the teams, and enter the tournament with an eight-game winning streak.

Oguchi’s previous career high was 25 points against USC during an 84-78 loss Jan. 28.

The 6-foot-5 sophomore from Houston brought an 8.4-point scoring average into the game. He also had six rebounds to equal his career best.

Malik Hairston added 21 points in Oregon’s third victory over WSU this season and 11th straight since the Cougars beat the Ducks 63-62 on Feb. 15, 2001.

Jordan Kent had 11 rebounds to lead the Ducks to a 38-31 advantage in that department.

Starting guard Aaron Brooks didn’t play in the second half because of flu-like symptoms. He had three points and six assists in 16 minutes.

Freshman Aron Baynes had 14 points and seven rebounds to lead 10th-seeded WSU (11-17).

Robbie Cowgill added 13 points and eight rebounds and freshman Chris Matthews scored nine for the Cougars.

Oregon State 71, Arizona State 68: Kyle Jeffers had 20 points and nine rebounds to lead Oregon State to a 71-68 victory over Arizona State in the opening game.

Ninth-seeded OSU (13-17) faces the regular-season champion and top seed, No. 13 UCLA, in today’s quarterfinals.

ASU (11-17) had beaten OSU in both their regular-season meetings and was seeded No. 8 in the tournament.

Jeffers, a 6-foot-9 junior center, sparked a second-half comeback when the Beavers rallied from a 15-point deficit.