GAME NOTES: The high-scoring Oregon Ducks invade Pullman for a Pac-10 showdown with the eighth-ranked Washington State Cougars this evening. Oregon carried a three-game winning streak into Thursday's clash with Washington, but the result was a 78-70 loss to the Huskies. The Ducks fell to 12-5 overall, including 3-2 in league play and 3-3 in true road games. They have failed to score 80 points in three consecutive outings, the longest such streak of the season. As for the Cougars, they opened the season with 14 consecutive wins before finally losing to UCLA on the road last weekend. Fortunately, they were able to bounce back strong on Thursday with a 69-46 romp over Oregon State. Washington State is 8-0 at home thus far, an obvious reason for confidence tonight. Oregon owns a 154-116 advantage in the all-time series with Washington State, including a pair of wins over the Cougars a year ago.

Oregon is racking up 81.6 ppg on 49.3 percent shooting from the floor, and the club is permitting 73.4 ppg to the opposition on 42.8 percent shooting. There are four active double-digit scorers in the mix for the Ducks, and Malik Hairston leads the group with 18.3 ppg on 54.7 percent shooting from the field, including 48.6 percent from three-point range. Maarty Leunen checks in with 15.6 ppg and 9.7 rpg, and the fact that he is second on the roster with 44 assists speaks to the versatility of the rugged forward. Bryce Taylor is contributing 13.9 ppg, while Tajuan Porter rounds out the foursome with 13.1 ppg. Leunen posted 22 points in defeat against Washington on Thursday, followed closely by Hairston's 20. Taylor added 12 points for the Ducks, while Porter managed 10. However, the rest of the team combined for just six points in the loss. Oregon was outscored 15-8 from the foul line and outrebounded by a 45-33 margin, two obvious factors in the setback.

Strong defense has been key to the success of Washington State thus far, as it is limiting the opposition to 52.1 ppg on 39.5 percent shooting from the floor. Offensively, the Cougars have been tremendously efficient, as they have made good on 50.1 percent of their field goal attempts and are averaging 69.2 ppg. Derrick Low is the leading scorer for WSU, as he is netting 13.6 ppg on the strength of his 43.1 percent shooting from three-point range and 84.6 percent efficiency from the foul line. Aron Baynes adds 12.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg to the mix, and Kyle Weaver checks in with 10.9 ppg and 4.0 apg. In the 23- point win over Oregon State, Baynes netted 17 points, while Low tallied 15 points. A 33-17 rebounding advantage clearly benefited the Cougars, as did 9- of-18 shooting from behind the arc.

The edge has to go to the home team tonight, as the Cougars will hold off a talented group of Ducks. Expect another strong effort at both ends of the floor by Low and company.