Cougars triumph at KeyArena
<p>Portland's Kramer Knutson, center, blocks a shot attempt by Washington State's Faisal Aden, left, as Portland's Luke Sikma (43) watches Tuesday in Seattle.</p>
SEATTLE (AP) - Klay Thompson scored Washington State's first nine points and 18 of his 35 in the first half, and the Cougars nearly blew all of an early 20-point lead before pulling away from Portland 84-68 on Tuesday night.
Playing their annual game at Seattle's KeyArena, the Cougars (3-0) jumped to a 24-4 lead, then had to fend off a furious rally from the Pilots in the second half. Portland cut the deficit in half before halftime and pulled within 57-56 with 11 minutes left before the Cougars put it out of reach.
Washington State scored 23 of the next 27 points to build its lead back to 80-60. Faisal Aden added 21 points for the Cougars.
Jared Stohl led Portland (4-2) with 21 points and Nemanja Mitrovic added 17 for the Pilots.
WSU travels to Fresno State on Friday.
PORTLAND (4-2)
Mitrovic 7-14 0-0 17, Sikma 4-11 4-5 12, Knutson 1-3 0-0 2, Waterford 1-3 2-4 5, Stohl 6-13 4-4 21, Riley 0-4 0-0 0, Douglas 2-7 0-0 5, Barker 1-3 2-2 4, Rodgers 0-5 0-0 0, Nicholas 0-1 0-0 0, Hannibal 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 23-65 12-15 68.
WASHINGTON ST. (3-0)
Casto 1-3 0-0 2, Lodwick 1-3 0-0 3, Capers 2-2 5-7 9, Thompson 13-16 6-6 35, Aden 8-15 1-1 21, DiIorio 0-1 0-0 0, Motum 2-3 1-3 6, McNamara 0-0 0-0 0, Loewen 0-1 0-0 0, Winston Jr. 1-2 0-0 2, Enquist 0-1 0-2 0, Simon 2-4 0-0 6. Totals 30-51 13-19 84.
Halftime_Washington St. 48-36. 3-Point Goals_Portland 10-27 (Stohl 5-12, Mitrovic 3-7, Waterford 1-1, Douglas 1-3, Sikma 0-2, Riley 0-2), Washington St. 11-21 (Aden 4-8, Thompson 3-4, Simon 2-4, Motum 1-1, Lodwick 1-3, Loewen 0-1). Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Portland 36 (Sikma, Waterford 6), Washington St. 30 (Casto 7). Assists_Portland 14 (Waterford 4), Washington St. 12 (Capers 5). Total Fouls_Portland 18, Washington St. 18. A_8,441.