Washington St.-Oregon Preview

2/15/2008 3:56 PM

By DAN PIERINGER
STATS Writer

Washington State is still recovering from a three-game losing streak at home, where it had been dominant over the last two seasons. It'll try to continue its climb back up the rankings at a place where it hasn't had as much success lately.

The 21st-ranked Cougars visit Pac-10 rival Oregon on Saturday in search of their first win in Eugene in more than a decade.

Washington State (19-5, 7-5) won its first 14 games and earned the No. 4 spot in back-to-back polls Dec. 31 and Jan. 7. It was 17-2 when it opened a crucial four-game homestand on Jan. 31, but the Cougars lost the first three games against California, then-No. 14 Stanford and then-No. 5 UCLA.

The skid dealt a major blow to Washington State's hopes of winning its first Pac-10 title, but the Cougars have bounced back by capping the homestand with a 74-50 victory over Southern California and winning 70-57 at Oregon State on Thursday night.

They're in third place in the Pac-10 - two games behind Stanford and 2 1/2 in back of conference-leading UCLA.

"During the losing streak we were playing great basketball," said Washington State coach Tony Bennett, whose team had won 22 of its first 24 home games after he took over before the 2006-07 season. "I just wanted to keep playing that kind of ball and get a little sounder."

Junior guard Taylor Rochestie, who led the Cougars with career highs of 24 points and four 3-pointers in Thursday's win, says the team didn't panic during its struggles.

"Even during the losing streak I felt we were getting better," he said. "Right now, we just want to play great basketball. This time of the year everyone is playing well."

The Cougars might have to play particularly well to get a victory at McArthur Court, where Oregon (15-9, 6-6) has won 12 straight against Washington State since a 76-59 loss on Feb. 18, 1995.

The Ducks improved to 10-2 at home this season as five players reached double figures in scoring in a 71-58 win over Washington on Thursday night. They totaled 16 assists and won for the 12th time in 14 games when they have at least 15. Oregon is 3-7 when it fails to reach that mark.

"We're starting to share the ball more," said coach Ernie Kent, whose team has totaled 39 assists in two games since setting a season low with six in a 72-43 loss at Stanford on Feb. 7. "I'm very pleased that we're sharing the ball more."

The Ducks, however, could struggle to find an offensive flow against a Washington State team that's third in the nation in scoring defense (55.6 points per game). Oregon is ninth in the Pac-10 in that category, giving up 73.3 points per contest.

"We know we have cost ourselves some games, but we know we are a good basketball team, particularly on the offensive end of the floor," Kent said. "We just need to keep buying into the defensive effort."

Oregon had its 13-game win streak over Washington State snapped when it lost 69-60 on the road Jan. 20. Ducks forward Maarty Leunen had 20 points and 13 rebounds in that game, while Derrick Low led the Cougars with a season-high 27 points.

Low had a career-high 37 points with nine 3-pointers in a home loss to Oregon last season.

The Ducks have won 21 of the last 23 meetings to take a 154-116 advantage in their series with the Cougars.