Coming off a sub-30 percent shooting effort against USC, Washington State was desperate to find a new threat from the perimeter.
Turns out Klay Thompson was all they needed.
Thompson scored a career-high 28 points, including an 8 of 10 effort from 3-point range, to lead Washington State past Arizona State, 65-55.
Aron Baynes added 22 points and 9 rebounds for the Cougars (12-8, 4-4 Pac-10), who improved their Pac-10 road record to 3-0. The Cougars are just 1-4 in conference at home.
Taylor Rochestie added 11 for WSU, who only had five players score on the evening.
James Harden led the way for the Sun Devils (16-4, 5-3), who fell for only the third time in their last fifteen games. Harden finished with 26 points and was the only ASU player in double figures. NCAA 3-point percentage leader Rihards Kuksiks struggled mightily, draining only 2 of 10 attempts from distance.
It was Washington State's first win over a ranked team on the road since upsetting Washington in 2006.
Player of the Game: Thompson. Duh.
Unsung hero: Aron Baynes. Baynes and Thompson scored 50 points combined in the game. ASU, as a team, finished with 55. You know it's a good night for your low post player when he has 22 against a zone defense.
Play of the Game: The biggest three of the night, arguably, didn't come from Thompson but instead from Taylor Rochestie. Rochestie drained a three with the shot clock expiring to give WSU a 54-49 with 3:33 remaining.
It was over when... Washington State started getting to the free throw line in the final minute.
Klay Fighter: Klay Thompson came into the night a 36.1% 3pt shooter, and left Tempe a 40.8% shooter from distance. Not a bad haul for one evening.
Klay's previous career high was 19 against Mississippi State, part of his only career double-double (with 10 rebounds). Tonight was his 12th game this year scoring in double figures for WSU.
No TV, No problem: The Cougars have yet to lose a non-televised game this season (6-0).
Where's zero?: Marcus Capers did not check into the game for the first time in his career.
Distance Specialists: The Cougars as a team made 10 of 20 three-pointers, good for 50% (in case you can't do quick math). Of course, take out Thompson and WSU was a horrific 2 for 10.
Mike Harthun off the bench: The freshman from Oregon played six minutes, airballing his only three in his first appearance since the Washington game. Excuse me Tony, but how do you expect guys like Harthun and Lodwick to get going if the leash on them is so short? Our distance specialists, save Harmeling, have been getting only limited action in the first half. Not the easiest way to get a rhythm going.
Of course, none of that matters when Klay Thompson is shooting it like he did tonight.
Go Klay go.