WSU takes offense
LOS ANGELES � Most of the time the Washington State men’s basketball team wins games with its defense.
Thursday night it was the offense � and the long-range offense at that � lifting the fourth-ranked Cougars past USC, 73-58, at the Galen Center.
How good was WSU’s offense?
The Cougars had 25 baskets. They had 17 assists, including nine before halftime.
They took 19 3-point shots. They made 10, including eight of their first 13.
They had seven turnovers, with the first one of the second half coming with 4 minutes, 52 seconds left and WSU holding a 58-46 lead, just two points off their biggest of the night.
They scored on 10 consecutive possessions midway through the second half.
They needed all of it to raise their record to 14-0, 2-0 in the Pac-10. Because they couldn’t keep USC (9-6, 0-3) from getting the ball to the basket.
The Trojans had 38 of their points at or near the rim, by far the most WSU has given up this season.
Daven Harmeling led the way with 19 and Aron Baynes had 16, most on dunks. But they weren’t alone. Derrick Low added 10 and Taylor Rochestie chipped in 12.
It all started early.
No one has been able to get into the key this season as easily as the Trojans did in the first half. Of USC’s 23 first-half points, 20 of them came on shots within the key, the place WSU’s defense is designed to keep clear.
The other three? They came on a O.J. Mayo 22-footer from the right wing, the only one of the four 3-pointers USC tried that went in � in fact, two of the misses were air balls. Mayo finished with 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
For a change, it was WSU that was hitting the long-range shots, particularly Harmeling. He had four in the first 20 minutes, plus another shot with his foot on the line.
His 14 points in the half were just four off his season high, and nine of those points came at a crucial time.
After playing at their speed for the 15 minutes and leading 18-12, the Cougars went through a 3-minute stretch in which they uncharacteristically took quick shots.
The Trojans, as is their wont, took advantage. Drives by Mayo and Taj Gibson, Mayo’s 3 and Gibson’s fastbreak dunk not only gave USC its first lead since the first couple minutes, it also forced WSU coach Tony Bennett to call a timeout. With 2:33 before half, SC was up 21-18 and the Galen Center crowd was actually making a little noise.
But Harmeling, under the somewhat watchful eye of Gibson, who really didn’t want to leave the key, hit a 21-footer behind Robbie Cowgill’s screen. After a stop, he hit another, this one as Gibson gave him room. Another stop, another Harmeling 3-pointer, off a pick-and-pop with Rochestie.
The Harmeling 9-0 run helped the Cougars to a 27-23 lead at intermission.