TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Marcus Moore and Jeff Varem each scored 21 points as Washington State kept its Pac-10 Tournament hopes alive with an 83-70 win over Arizona State here Thursday night.
Thomas Kelati added 14 points for the Cougars (12-13, 6-9 Pac-10), who maintained their hold on eighth place in the league standings - the cutoff point to qualify for the conference tournament.
Arizona State (10-15, 4-12) remained in the Pac-10 cellar despite Ike Diogu's 28 points. ASU was coming off its best game of the year, an 86-75 win at Oregon on Saturday, but could not win two straight Pac-10 games for the first time on the year.
The Sun Devils closed to 62-58 with 6:10 left before senior Marcus Moore gave the Cougars some breathing room with a leaner off the glass and a reverse layup.
Varem later added seven straight points, including a 3-point play, that put the Cougars ahead 73-63 with 3:23 remaining.
Arizona State had led 41-37 at halftime behind Diogu's 21 points. He closed the half with 21 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field.
Washington State trailed 47-41 with 15:50 to play before Moore and Varem keyed a comeback.
Jamal Hill finished with 14 points and Stevie Moore 10 for the Sun Devils.
ASU had just 22 rebounds in the game, its fewest since March 4, 1995, when it had just 22 at Washington State. The Sun Devils were outrebounded for the 13th time on the year and for the 11th time in 16 Pac-10 contests.