Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. - After a strong start by Washington State, UC Davis trimmed its 14-point halftime deficit to single digits in Sunday's non-conference game at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash., but the Cougars survived numerous second-half runs, including a 7-1 surge in the final minutes and sank their free throws to down the Aggies, 90-83.

UC Davis will enter Tuesday night's game at Seattle, the last of four straight away from Davis, with a 9-2 record. Washington State pulls even at 6-6 with the result.

Corey Hawkins led all players with 29 points, on 12 of 22 shooting, connected on all four free throw attempts, and led all Aggies with six rebounds. The senior guard also collected five of the team's 12 steals to set a new career mark.

In a game that was televised nationwide on the Pac-12 Networks, Hawkins also notched his fifth 20-plus point game of the year and 28th of his career.

Avery Johnson recorded a perfect shooting performance and set four new season highs by sinking all four field goal attempts, including two from three-point territory, and both shots taken at the free throw line to finish with 12 points.

Johnson also tied a career high with three steals.

By making all five shots taken throughout the game, Josh Fox was the final Aggie to score double digits and chipped in 10. That total marked the third time in as many games that the junior forward ended his evening with 10 or more points.

UC Davis finished 33-for-59 overall compared to the Cougars who were 31-for-57 from the floor, and posted a higher field goal percentage by a .559 to .544 margin.

"I told the team after the game that we shot 59 percent on offense and 56 percent from three and lost on the road. It proves the fact that we cannot just show up and outscore people, we need to show up and defend because that will lead to offensive opportunities," said UC Davis head coach Jim Les.

The Aggies also outscored Washington State in the second half, 51-44, but were unable to erase an early double-digit deficit - a start that saw the Cougars open the game with a 21-6 run on 5 of 6 shooting from three.

"We got off to a poor start and missed some easy shots, hung our head, took it to the defensive end and let a good team find its rhythm on offense."

Washington State led by as many as 22 points midway through the first half before UC Davis trimmed its deficit by and entered the locker room down 46-32, but with momentum on its side.

On four occasions throughout the second half, the Aggies pulled within single digits before the Cougars responded with mini-runs of their own. Even with its opponent's hot start, UC Davis remained within three possessions late in the game before WSU finished the evening by making 7 of its final 10 free throws.

"We did not score many points early, but we still ended up with those shooting percentages. When we were aggressive on defense, we did a great job in forcing (the Cougars) to rush their shots, commit turnovers and create opportunities in transition for us," added Les.

UC Davis forced 19 Washington State miscues and scored 25 points off those turnovers.

"Against a Pac-12 team, on the road, we needed to create some breaks and were just not able to throughout the game."

Both scoring totals were team highs for UC Davis, and its opponent this year.

UC Davis will have an opportunity to bounce back and return to form when the Aggies visit Key Arena Tuesday night to face the Seattle Redhawks. Action from Seattle will start at 7 p.m., links for an internet broadcast and live stats are available at ucdavisaggies.com. Scott Marsh will also call the action courtside live on KSAC (105.5 FM).

WASHINGTON STATE 90, UC DAVIS 83

UC DAVIS (9-2)

Hawkins, Corey 12-22 4-4 29; Johnson, Avery 4-4 2-2 12; Fox, Josh 5-5 0-1 10; Les, Tyler 3-5 0-0 8; Ritchart, Josh 3-7 0-0 8; Graham, Darius 2-4 0-1 5; Monson, Neal 2-5 1-2 5; Lemar, Brynton 1-1 1-2 4; Adenrele, J.T. 1-6 0-0 2. Totals 33-59 8-12 83.

WASHINGTON STATE (6-6)

Lacy, DaVontÈ 6-11 6-6 22; Hawkinson, Josh 7-11 2-4 18; Johnson, Que 5-7 1-2 14; Railey, Jordan 6-9 0-0 12; Redding, Ny 2-5 4-4 8; Boese, Brett 3-5 0-0 8; Iroegbu, Ike 1-6 4-4 6; Cheatum, Aaron 1-1 0-0 2; Longrus, Junior 0-0 0-2 0; Dunbar, Trevor 0-2 0-0 0; Kernich-Drew, Dexter 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 31-57 17-22 90.

UC Davis............................ 32 51 - 83

Washington State.............. 46 44 - 90

3-point goals--UC Davis 9-16 (Johnson, Avery 2-2; Les, Tyler 2-4; Ritchart, Josh 2-2; Graham, Darius 1-2; Hawkins, Corey 1-5; Lemar, Brynton 1-1), Washington State 11-19 (Lacy, DaVontÈ 4-6; Johnson, Que 3-4; Hawkinson, Josh 2-3; Boese, Brett 2-4; Iroegbu, Ike 0-1; Redding, Ny 0-1). Fouled out--UC Davis-None, Washington State-None. Rebounds--UC Davis 23 (Hawkins, Corey 6), Washington State 34 (Hawkinson, Josh 11). Assists--UC Davis 12 (Hawkins, Corey 6), Washington State 23 (Iroegbu, Ike 5; Redding, Ny 5). Total fouls--UC Davis 20, Washington State 15. Technical fouls--UC Davis-Fox, Josh, Washington State-None. A-1401