The game that was, CBI edition: WSU 72, Oregon State 55
COUGARS
FROM PULLMAN -- Washington State beat Oregon State for a third time this season on Wednesday, and this one was their most dominating win over the Beavers yet. It also allowed the Cougars to advance to next week's best-of-three championship series against Pittsburgh. We watched the game with about 50 others at Beasley Coliseum, and have our postgame wrap after the jump.
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PLAYER OF THE GAME -- No question about this one. After Brock Motum went down with a sprained ankle early in the game, Abe Lodwick took over. He scored 16 of his career-high 23 points in the first half to help WSU take a 39-29 lead at the break, and the Cougars never relented after halftime. They won the game with defense more than anything. But Lodwick's breakout contribution -- which also included a career-high 12 rebounds -- was the extra spark WSU needed with Motum on the bench. It was Lodwick's first career double-double. Reggie Moore added a season-high 22 points.
PLAY OF THE GAME -- Lodwick buried a long -- really, really long -- high-arcing 3-pointer just before halftime to give the Cougars a 10-point lead. When that shot went in, you got the feeling that it was just going to be that kind of night for the Cougars. It was.
KEY STAT -- Brock Motum's four points in two minutes. OSU should have seized all the momentum when Motum went down. Instead, WSU simply made up for Motum's absence with contributions from other players. Official word on Motum is a right ankle injury. We'll pass along more information when it's available.
QUOTABLE -- Wasn't there, so I've got nothing here.
NEXT UP -- Home against Pittsburgh at 7 p.m. Monday. It's the first game of a best-of-three championship series. The Panthers beat Butler 68-62 in overtime on Wednesday. The teams will play in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and again on Friday, if necessary.
Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com. Twitter: @ChristianCaple