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<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Washington State guard Taylor Rochestie (10) shoots over Arizona State guard Derek Glasser (12) during the first half.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, February 28, 2009 Washington State upsets No. 14 Arizona St. 51-49 in overtime Associated Press PULLMAN-- Washington State leader Taylor Rochestie was having a terrible night, missing field goals and key free throws in front of family who flew up from California for Senior Day. That all changed when his long 3-pointer with 2.3 seconds left in overtime lifted Washington State to a 51-49 upset of No. 14 Arizona State on Saturday. "I made my first and my last shots of the game," said Rochestie, who was 2-for-11 and finished with just nine points in a game featuring two of the nation's top defensive teams. His teammates had no reservations about the senior point guard's shot. "The shot went up and I started walking back because I saw it was good," said WSU center Aron Baynes. "We want the ball in Taylor's hands at the end of the game." Washington State (16-13, 8-9 Pac-10) got the ball with 12 seconds left on a rebound and Rochestie drove up the floor. He dribbled into a tangle of players at the top of the key, took a few steps back and launched the game-winner from some 27 feet out. "When I shot that last shot, I said, 'this has to go in, this has to,'" Rochestie said. Ty Abbott's 40-footer at the buzzer bounced off the rim and Arizona State (21-7, 10-6), which was coming off an overtime loss at Washington, suffered a season sweep at the hands of both Pac-10 teams in this state. "I haven't felt like this since high school," said Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph, calling it his toughest college loss. Washington State fans stormed the floor to celebrate the team's third straight win, which kept alive post-season hopes. The Cougars finish the regular season at No. 21 Washington next week, and likely need to win the Pacific-10 tournament to make a third consecutive trip to the NCAAs. But they appear to be peaking at the right time, beating UCLA and Arizona the previous two games. Arizona State's James Harden struggled all game, but made three free throws with 2.4 seconds left to tie the game at 43 and send it into overtime. Derek Glasser's 3-pointer put ASU up 46-43 in the extra period. But Harden fouled out on WSU's subsequent possession with 3:26 left. The Pacific-10's leading scorer finished with 13 points on 2-for-11 shooting. Klay Thompson, who led all scorers with 17 points, missed the free throw after Harden's foul, but Baynes dunked the rebound to cut ASU's lead to one. "He weighs like a mountain and he's as wide as one, too," Pendergraph said of the 250-pound Baynes, who finished with 11 points. After an Arizona State miss, Rochestie was fouled and made one of two to tie it at 46. Glasser missed and Rochestie was fouled on the rebound, making both free throws for a 48-46 Washington State lead. Glasser's long 3-pointer gave ASU a 49-48 lead with 1:22 remaining. After Rochestie missed, Arizona State's Rihards Kuksiks drove toward the basket, but his shot was swatted away and WSU rebounded, setting up Rochestie's game-winner. Arizona State led just 23-20 at halftime, and Washington State took control early in the second. Harden, the Pac-10's leading scorer at 21 points per game, did not make a field goal until his 3-pointer with 5:13 left in regulation brought the Sun Devils within 38-35. Glasser's 3-pointer tied it a minute later. WSU's Baynes and DeAngelo Casto scored for a 42-38 lead. Kuksiks made a layup to bring Arizona State within 42-40. Baynes made a free throw for a 43-40 lead. Harden missed on a drive, Casto rebounded, and Arizona State fouled Rochestie. But Rochestie, a 90 percent free throw shooter, missed the free throw and ASU rebounded. The ball got to Harden, who was fouled on a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds left. He sank all three to send the game into overtime. "That's what your star players do," Pendergraph said. Washington State leads the nation in scoring defense at 55 points per game, while Arizona State is 17th at 59.4. This was the final regular season home game for four seniors who helped turn around a woeful program. Rochestie, Baynes, Caleb Forrest and Daven Harmeling became the first senior class at WSU since 1989 to defeat all nine Pac-10 rivals. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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