When it rains on Washington State, it pours.
The Arizona Wildcats used a 24-2 run in the second half to fly past the reeling Cougars, 66-56.
Chase Budinger led the way for Arizona (14-8, 4-5 Pac-10) with19 points, one of four Wildcats in double figures.
The Cougars (12-9, 4-5) meanwhile, couldn't quite do enough on offense to overcome 13 turnovers and a second half scoring drought. WSU led by seven with 13:51 remaining, when two Arizona three-pointers sparked the aforementioned scoring run. The Cougars only scored 2 points in a stretch of 10 minutes and 28 seconds.
Taylor Rochestie led the way for the Cougars with 22 points. Aron Baynes dominated under the basket with 12 points and 14 rebounds - but it wasn't nearly enough as only three other Cougars managed to log scores. Daven Harmeling added nine points, and Klay Thompson added eight on a rough shooting night (3 for 13).
Washington State hits the halfway mark of conference play at one game under .500. The Cougars only have four of their remaining nine games at home.
Player of the Game: Rochestie. 22 points (9/16, 4/8 3pt), 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 turnovers.
Unsung hero: Aron Baynes, once again, with 14 and 12.
It was over when... Zane Johnson and Chase Budinger hit back-to-back threes, giving U of A a 56-41 lead with 4:23 to play.
Play of the Game: Hmm... not much here, but lets go with Taylor Rochestie's layup to give the Cougars a 39-32 lead. From that point on the Wildcats would outscore WSU 34-17.
So much for getting burnt by Arizona's Big Three: The Cougars gave up 16 points to Zane Johnson and 10 to Kyle Fogg. Only one bench player for either team scored in this game - Caleb Forrest with five for WSU. The Cougs did hold Nic Wise to six points, although they may have been two of the most damaging field goals of the game.
DIdn't see that coming: At 4-5 in conference, the Cougs move into a tie for sixth place with Arizona and Oregon State. Yes, that Oregon State. I'm not sure what that says.
Magic number?: The Cougars are 10-0 when they score more than sixty points. Less than that? Try 2-9.