Stanford up by eight in contentious game

COUGARS

As shooting exhibitions go, this one was pretty horrendous, with WSU shooting 20 percent in a first half they trailed 30-22. Against the worst defensive team in the Pac-10 (at least as shooting percentage defense goes), Washington State managed to hit just 4 of 20 shots in the first half. The Cougars went almost 13 minutes without hitting a shot, from Klay Thompson’s 3-pointer with 12:56 left to go until Taylor Rochestie scored on a drive with 4 seconds left. Only their free-throw shooting (they were 12 of 15; when have I written that?) kept them anywhere near the Cardinal, who not only shot 42 percent from the floor, but dominated the boards, 18-12. Cougar coach Tony Bennett has come awfully close to his first-ever T, as he has expressed his disgust with Kevin Brill, Michael Iriving and Bill Staffen’s officiating more than once, including as he was leaving the floor. We’ll be back at the end of the game to update you. Till then …