Ranked and ready

BERKELEY, Calif. – Tony Bennett walked into Haas Pavilion wondering how his basketball team would react to being in the Top 25 for the first time in 24 years.

“I was intrigued, interested to see, OK, we got a little bit of praise and notoriety because we got ranked for the first time,” he said. “How will they respond?”

The answer sent Bennett smiling into a cool California evening. No. 22 Washington State never trailed to the Golden Bears, shutting down the home team and sending the hometown fans to the exits early in a 73-56 win.

As has been the case so often this season, the Cougars (15-2, 4-1 Pac-10) had the opposition gushing with praise after the fact.

“They’re not the old Washington State,” Cal guard Ayinde Ubaka said. “They’re a real good team now.”

Any questions about how WSU would react to its ranking ended quickly as the Cougars jumped out to a 17-5 lead. Much of it was because of a fast start by guard Kyle Weaver, who successfully posted up a smaller defender on each of their first two possessions.

The junior didn’t disappear thereafter, either. Weaver scored 14 points and dished out a career-best 10 assists for his third career double-double, all of which have come in the last six games.

The Cougars offense operated so well that all five starters finished in double figures, with Daven Harmeling and Ivory Clark also scoring 14, while Derrick Low and Robbie Cowgill scored 11 apiece.

“We’re playing a balanced game,” Weaver said. “Everybody can score on any night. Everybody’s rebounding, passing the ball and getting good shots. When you’re playing well together, you feel good.”

In the rare moments when Cal (10-6, 2-2) made a run at WSU, the Cougars quickly responded. Low completed a four-point play in the first half when Cal had closed within six. After leading by 12 at halftime, Cal never got within single digits, and the one time it got as close as 10, Weaver found Clark for an alley-oop dunk that put the Bears back on their heels.

“I was proud the way they responded and battled,” said Bennett, who provided some in-game humor when he slipped and fell while arguing an officiating call. “We played the way that gives us a chance. We’re not the most talented team, but our kids have bought in.”

Bennett also managed to involve more players, even though the starters contributed the lion’s share of the points. WSU used nine players in the first half and 10 for the game, giving the starters a chance to take regular rests throughout.

No matter who was on the floor, the baskets were coming easily as one cutter after another found layups for the taking.

The Cougars scored 36 of their 73 points in the paint, and shot 58 percent from the floor while Cal shot 33.9 percent on the other end.

Winners of four straight Pac-10 games – a first since 1996 – the Cougars can think about heading back home with their standing in the Top 25 intact, especially if they can fend off Stanford on Saturday.

Notes

Junior Chris Henry did not make the trip to the Bay Area, and Bennett said he is being evaluated by a team doctor this week for back and ankle injuries. Asked if surgery were a possibility on the ankle, the coach did not rule it out. … In Henry’s place, redshirting freshman Thomas Abercrombie, whose parents are visiting from New Zealand, is with the team.

WSU 73, California 56

Percentages: FG .580, FT .647. 3-Point Goals: 4-13, .308 (Harmeling 2-2, Low 2-5, Weaver 0-1, Hopson 0-1, Koprivica 0-1, Matthews 0-3). Team Rebounds: 3. Blocked Shots: 4 (Weaver 2, Harmeling, Clark). Turnovers: 11 (Weaver 5, Harmeling, Clark, Cowgill, Matthews, Rochestie, Forrest). Steals: 2 (Weaver, Forrest). Technical Fouls: None.

Percentages: FG .339, FT .688. 3-Point Goals: 7-29, .241 (Anderson 2-4, Ubaka 2-8, Vierneisel 2-9, Pribble 1-1, Robertson 0-1, Christopher 0-1, Fang 0-1, Wilkes 0-2, Randle 0-2). Team Rebounds: 1. Blocked Shots: 1 (Vierneisel). Turnovers: 9 (Anderson 3, Ubaka 2, Vierneisel, Robertson, Christopher, Fang). Steals: 2 (Anderson, Ubaka). Technical Fouls: None.

Halftime–Washington State 40, California 28. A–7,319.