Cougars collapse at Stanford
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) - Jeremy Green and Landry Fields were both on their way to season-worst performances on Thursday. But they worked it out and helped Stanford overcome its biggest deficit in three years to remain undefeated at home in conference play.
Green scored 18 of his 24 points in the second half, including the game-winner with 4.6 seconds left, as Stanford rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat Washington State 60-58.
Fields had 10 of his 15 points in the second half for the Cardinal (11-13, 5-7 Pac-10), who trailed 44-26 with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Klay Thompson scored 19 points for the Cougars (15-9, 5-7), who lost their fourth in five games. DeAngelo Casto added 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Stanford, shooting 63.2 percent over the final 20 minutes, avoided its longest losing streak in 17 years by outscoring the Cougars 17-6 over the final six minutes. The Cardinal were 10 of 11 from the foul line during that stretch.
"Stanford played very good basketball down the stretch," Cougars coach Ken Bone said. "They were very very good at both ends of the court, and we collapsed. Part of that credit goes to Stanford. On the other hand, we had careless turnovers, not as good shot selection as early in the game, defensive rotations weren't as good. We just kind of collapsed."
Green's 3-pointer with 2:42 left gave Stanford its first lead since early in the game.
"You can't stop playing," Green said. "You have to compete no matter what. If the shots aren't going, you have to find another way."
The Cougars eventually came back to tie the game at 58 when Casto slammed the ball home with 12.9 seconds left.
Stanford coach Johnny Dawkins allowed play to continue and Green dribbled around a Fields screen to nail a long jumper.
"I went with my instincts not to call a time-out there," Dawkins said. "I didn't want to give them a chance to load up on Jeremy and Landry, so I left it in their hands."
Green was happy that play continued.
"I saw their defense scrambling and backpedaling," he said. "Landry set a great screen and I was surprised I was so open."
Thompson took the blame for the open look.
"I was supposed to switch. I didn't," he said. "I just had a bad lapse at the worst part of the game."
The Cardinal played their worst half of the season, committing eight of their 11 first-half turnovers in the first nine minutes, and trailed 33-18 at halftime.
Washington State scored 18 points as a result of the miscues and added four second-chance points. Da'Veed Dildy was credited with the lone assist of the half.
For the first time this season, the locker room was subdued at halftime.
"There was no fire and brimstone," Dawkins said. "I was more disappointed in the way we played. It showed in the second half."
Former Stanford All-American and current Phoenix Suns player Robin Lopez was in attendance along with Jim Plunkett, the school's only Heisman Trophy winner.
The Cougars play at California on Saturday.
WASHINGTON ST. (15-9)
Casto 6-9 3-6 15, Capers 2-2 0-0 4, Thompson 7-16 2-2 19, Moore 1-10 2-2 5, Koprivica 2-8 0-0 5, Thames 1-3 0-0 2, Motum 0-0 0-0 0, Bjornstad 0-0 0-0 0, Watson 1-1 0-0 2, Harthun 3-5 0-0 6, Lodwick 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 7-10 58.
STANFORD (11-13)
Fields 5-9 4-6 15, Green 7-13 5-6 24, Trotter 1-4 0-0 2, Shiller 3-5 2-2 9, Mann 0-2 0-2 0, Igbinosa 1-5 3-4 5, Daian 0-0 0-0 0, Dildy 2-2 1-2 5, Zimmermann 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 19-40 15-22 60.
Halftime-Washington St. 33-18. 3-Point Goals-Washington St. 5-17 (Thompson 3-7, Moore 1-3, Koprivica 1-4, Lodwick 0-1, Thames 0-1, Harthun 0-1), Stanford 7-17 (Green 5-9, Fields 1-2, Shiller 1-3, Igbinosa 0-3). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Washington St. 27 (Casto 10), Stanford 32 (Fields 9). Assists-Washington St. 13 (Moore 5), Stanford 8 (Fields, Shiller 2). Total Fouls-Washington St. 21, Stanford 14. A-6,547.