WSU falls 46-44 to USC

COUGARS

What would you expect when the two best defensive teams in the Pac-10 get together? A drag-out defensive battle of course. And that’s what it was Saturday at Friel Court, won by USC 46-44. Neither team shot worth a darn, with WSU hitting 14 of 51 from the floor (27 percent) and USC 35 percent. The Cougars led 41-38 on Klay Thompson’s 3-pointer with 3 minutes left, but didn’t score again until Taylor Rochestie’s 3 at the buzzer. In between, USC all but two of their final eight points at the line, including what turned out to be the clinchers by Daniel Hackett after a key rebound call gave the ball to the Trojans. We’ll be back in about 90 minutes with the game story.