Sunday, January 30, 2005
The upset of No. 11 Arizona snapped a string of 38 losses to the Wildcats.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Four of the Washington State players on the court Saturday were not born the last time the Cougars beat Arizona. Two others were barely in diapers.
So WSU's 70-63 stunner over the 11th-ranked Wildcats -- at McKale Center no less -- was downright historic.
The Cougars ended a 38-game losing streak to coach Lute Olson's Arizona team.
"I can't remember the last time I was this happy," said Thomas Kelati, who sank a career-high seven 3-pointers and matched his career best with 27 points. "I returned to that locker room, coach was in tears, players were in tears. This feels good."
Kelati's final 3-pointer with 50.4 seconds to play put WSU ahead for good 66-63, then he sealed the victory by making two free throws with 32.1 seconds left.
"The thing I learned when I went to Washington State is there are too many negative streaks," said Dick Bennett, the ex-Wisconsin coach in his second season with the Cougars. "Every time you play you are facing one."
The Cougars erased a number of them on Saturday.
Washington State (9-9, 4-5 Pac-10) last beat the Wildcats on Jan. 30, 1986, 65-63 in overtime in Pullman. WSU broke a 20-game losing streak in Tucson and defeated a ranked opponent for the first time in 49 tries.
Mustafa Shakur had 12 points for Arizona (17-4, 7-2).
No. 3 N. Carolina 110, Virginia 76
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- North Carolina took control early and never relented in building a 62-26 halftime advantage. It was the third-worst home loss in school history for the Cavaliers. Jawad Williams scored 23 points to lead North Carolina (17-2, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference). J.R. Reynolds led Virginia (10-8, 1-7) with 18 points.
No. 20 Pittsburgh 76, No. 4 Syracuse 69
PITTSBURGH -- Carl Krauser scored all 19 of his points in the second half to spark Pittsburgh's comeback from a 17-point deficit. The Panthers (14-3, 4-2 Big East) took command with a 13-0 run midway through the second half. Gerry McNamara scored 26 points for Syracuse (20-2, 7-1), which had its 13-game winning streak snapped.
No. 5 Wake Forest 94, Miami 82
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Eric Williams had 23 points and 11 rebounds to help Wake Forest (17-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) improve to 10-0 at home. Point guard Anthony Harris scored a career-high 28 points for Miami (13-6, 4-4).
No. 7 Kentucky 68, Arkansas 67
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Patrick Sparks made a key basket with 24.2 seconds left to give Kentucky a 68-64 lead. Kelenna Azubuike scored 13 points to lead the Wildcats (16-2, 7-0 Southeastern Conference). Ronnie Brewer scored 18 points for Arkansas (14-6, 2-5).
Iowa St. 74, No. 13 Oklahoma 66
AMES, Iowa -- Curtis Stinson scored 23 points as Iowa State ended the Sooners' winning streak at 10. The Cylcones (9-8, 1-5 Big 12) also got 14 points from center Jared Homan. Oklahoma (16-3, 5-1) was led by Taj Gray's 21 points.
No. 21 Cincinnati 87, Houston 68
CINCINNATI -- James White scored a career-high 25 points to lead Cincinnati (17-3, 6-1 Conference USA). Houston (12-9, 3-4) is 1-22 against the Bearcats.
LSU 69, No. 24 Mississippi St. 62
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Brandon Bass had 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead LSU (11-6, 4-2 Southeastern Conference).
Lawrence Roberts had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Mississippi State.
The Bulldogs (16-5, 4-3), who once had the nation's longest road winning streak at 16 straight, have now lost three straight away from home.