Feb. 26, 2000

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - Chris Crosby scored 33 points, including seven in overtime, to lead Washington State to an 81-78 upset of California Saturday at Friel Court.

The win broke a 15-game losing streak for the Cougars and improved their record to 6-18 overall and 1-14 in the Pac-10. Cal, which suffered a major blow to its NCAA Tournament hopes, fell to 15-11 and 6-8.

WSU used an early 14-0 run to grab a 14-4 lead and went on to a 38-33 advantage at the break. The Cougars shot 52 percent from the floor and made 6-of-8 three-pointers in the opening period.

In the second half, Cal turned the tables, opening with a 17-2 spurt to grab a 50-40 lead with 12:57 left. The Bears were still up by 10 at 57-47 with 9:57 to go.

Crosby, who finished with eight three-pointers on the night, and Mike Bush hit back-to-back treys to put WSU back into the game. Cal still led, 68-64, and had the ball with under a minute left, but Shantay Legans turned the ball over on an ill-advised lob attempt with 37 seconds left.

Crosby hit another three-pointer to put WSU within one, but Cal's Donte Smith push the Bears back ahead by three with a pair of free throws. Then with the Bears up, 70-69, Sean Lampley missed two free throws with 15 seconds left to give WSU another chance. This time, Bush sank one of two free throws with six seconds to go to send it into the extra period.

In overtime, Lampley put Cal ahead 72-70 with a jumper, but Crosby gave the Cougars the lead for good with a three-pointer. He then hit two more free throws with 2:55 left and WSU was on its way to its first Pac-10 win.

Legans led Cal with 20 points, while Smith had 15, Lampley 14 and Nick Vander Laan 12.

"I was very disappointed in our effort tonight," head coach Ben Braun said. "Washington State just out-played us. We didn't come out as hungry as we needed to. In the second half, we played better, but again, we made too many mistakes down the stretch."