Bruins Pound Cougs

After falling behind yet again in the first half, as has become their modus operandi in the 2009-10 season, the Washington State University men's hoop team was unable to rebound from a double digit deficit and the UCLA Bruins ran away from the Cougars in the second half for a 74-62 win in Los Angeles. With the loss, the Cougars dropped to 14-6 overall and 4-4 in the Pac-10.

The Cougars never had the lead and - except for true freshman point guard Reggie Moore - again began the game with what is becoming their trademark slow start. Moore was the only Cougar shooting confidently as he scored Wazzu's first 12 points and single-handedly kept the Cougars in the game as UCLA led 15-12 after the first 10 minutes of play. The Cougars pulled to within one on a trey from Wazzu sophomore scoring sensation Klay Thompson to 16-15 and once again after two free throws from sophomore Xavier Thames at 18-17. But the Bruins went into the locker room holding a slim 30-27 lead.

Perhaps learning from USC's mistake earlier in the week, the Bruins opened the second half with an 18-6 run and never let the Cougars get closer than seven points for the rest of the way as UCLA cruised in for the 12-point victory and the Cougars lost for the 51st time in 53 attempts at Pauley Pavilion.

Three Cougars finished in double digits in scoring, led by Moore with 24 points and followed by Thompson with 13 points and senior Nikola Koprivica with 11.

NOTES:

- Pac-10 officials called a foul on DeAngelo Casto on the opening tip - one second into the game. Casto fouled out late in the game.

- The Cougars went the first 2:15 of the game without attempting a shot.

Wazzu will continue Pac-10 conference play on Thursday, January 30 when they will face rival Washington at 12:30 PM in Seattle

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