Pacific 10 Roundup : Arizona Clinches Regular-Season Title

Anthony Cook scored 28 points, including eight in an 18-0 second-half run, as top-ranked Arizona pulled away for a 74-48 victory over Washington State to clinch the Pacific 10 Conference championship Thursday night at Pullman, Wash.

Arizona (23-3 overall, 16-1 in the conference) cut down the nets at Friel Court to celebrate its second consecutive Pac-10 title.

The start of the game was moved back an hour because the Wildcats were delayed in getting to Pullman. A snowstorm, which closed Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday night, forced them to spend the night in Seattle. They arrived in Pullman late Thursday afternoon.

The Cougars (8-18, 3-14) weathered two 10-0 runs by the Wildcats and trailed, 43-36, before Cook rebounded his missed shot and scored to set off the Wildcats’ second-half burst.

The Arizona center also grabbed nine rebounds as he dominated inside play, scoring 17 of his points in the second half.

Brian Quinnett had 21 points for the Cougars, who held Arizona scoreless in the last three minutes of the first half.

A basket by Quinnett put the Cougars ahead, 33-31, early in the second half before Arizona ran off 10 unanswered points.

Washington 83, Arizona State 72--Eldridge Recasner scored 30 points and the Huskies rallied to beat the Sun Devils at Seattle.

Mark West’s two free throws gave Washington (12-15, 8-10) the lead for good, 66-65, with 7:06 left.

Oregon State 73, Oregon 69--Guard Gary Payton scored 22 points to lead the Beavers past the Ducks at Eugene.

The Beavers, who trailed most of the game, took the lead for good 48-46 on a basket by guard Eric Knox with 14:25 to play. It was the second of three consecutive baskets for the Beavers on three successive steals in less than a minute.

Oregon State is 12-5 in the Pac-10 and 20-6 overall. Oregon is 3-14 and 8-19. The teams meet again Saturday at Corvallis.