WSU
Streaking WSU Cougars beat Cal; 1st Bay sweep since ’93
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) – Michael Flowers scored 21 points and went 4-for-4 from the foul line in the final 31 seconds and the WSU Cougars beat California 68-64 on Saturday.
WSU Cougars 68, Cal 64: Box Score
Jalen Celestine’s 3-pointer brought Cal within 66-64 with 35 seconds to go after Flowers made a pair of foul shots with 31 seconds remaining.
After an intentional foul by Cal, WSU’s Noah Williams went to the line and missed the front end of a one-and-one and Grant Anticevich secured the rebound for Cal. But the Bears’ Joel Brown missed a shot attempt with six seconds left, and after getting fouled, Flowers sank a pair to seal it.
Efe Abogidi scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, Tyrell Roberts scored 12 and Mouhamed Gueye had 10 for the WSU Cougars.
Old fashion three-point play for @EAbogidi
📺| Pac-12 Network
📱| https://t.co/C5mSWeQF6Q#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/a6zft53hs3— WSU Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarMBB) February 5, 2022
The surging WSU Cougars (14-7, 7-3 Pac-12) now have won five straight. After its 66-60 win at Stanford on Thursday, Saturday’s win over Cal marked the first time since 1993 WSU posted a sweep of the Bay Area schools.
And that's why they call him @ghost_roberts 👻
📺| Pac-12 Network
📱| https://t.co/C5mSWeQF6Q#GoCougs pic.twitter.com/P68h6KvqMV— WSU Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarMBB) February 5, 2022
When Flowers hit his fourth 3-pointer of the game it marked the 100th time in his career he reached double digits in scoring. That basket gave the Cougars a 46-38 lead with 13:58 remaining.
Abogidi sank a pair of foul shots with 52 seconds before halftime to break a tie at 31 and Washington State never trailed again.
Reserve Jalen Celestine scored 20 points on 7-for-11 shooting for Cal. Anticevich, also off the bench, went 6 for 11 and scored and Jordan Shepherd was the only Bears starter with 10 as he missed 13 of 18 shot attempts.
The Cougars will host No. 7 Arizona on Thursday. Cal will try to end its 10-game losing streak at Oregon State on Wednesday.