BERKELEY, Calif. — Josh Hawkinson had 18 points and 13 rebounds for his sixth straight double-double, Jordan Railey scored 17 points and Washington State beat California 69-66 on Sunday for its first Pac-12 road win in nearly two years.
Ike Iroegbu added 12 points including four free throws over the final 36 seconds for the Cougars (7-7, 1-1), who won despite missing nine of their final 12 shots.
First-year coach Ernie Kent’s team had not won a road game all season and had not won a conference road game since beating Oregon State in Corvallis on Jan. 26, 2013 — a stretch of 15 games.
The Cougars ended both streaks with a stiff defense that held the Golden Bears (11-4, 1-1) without a basket for more than eight minutes late in the second half.
Jordan Mathews missed a potential tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.
DaVonte Lacy added 14 points and made five free throws in the final 19 seconds to help Washington State overcome its own offensive struggles down the stretch.
The Cougars have won three of four overall.
Cal, which stunned No. 21 Washington in the conference opener on Friday, led midway through the first half but fell behind at the half and couldn’t recover.
Railey, who missed four of his first five shots, got Washington State going with a short hook shot to pull the Cougars within 18-17. Hawkinson and Brett Boese followed with long jumpers to put the Cougars in front. Following a pair of free throws by Wallace, Railey scored on a three-point play.
Cal made only one basket over the final nine minutes of the half, went scoreless for 5:34 during one stretch and was held to 20 points or fewer in the first half for the third time in four games.
TIP-INS
Washington State: Klay Thompson, a Washington State alum now with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, attended the game wearing a red-and-white Cougars hat. He sat courtside, not far from Cal alum and current Oakland Athletics manager Bob Melvin.
California: David Kravish blocked a shot by Que Johnson with 15:13 left in the first half to become the first Cal player ever to have at least 1,000 points and 200 blocks in his career. The senior forward is also closing in on 800 career rebounds. … Guard Jabari Bird missed his ninth consecutive game with a foot injury. … Coach Cuonzo Martin was called for a technical after running onto the court next and nearly bumping a referee following a change of possession in the second half.
NEXT UP
Washington State: At No. 21 Washington on Saturday.
California: At Southern California on Wednesday.
