PULLLMAN, Wash. (AP) Whenever Isaac Bonton drained a 3-pointer or dished out an assist, NBA and Washington State Cougars great Klay Thompson was on his feet, cheering on the young point guard.
Thompson ended up spending a lot of time on his feet as Bonton scored a career-high 34 points and Washington State beat Oregon State Beavers 89-76 on Saturday in front of a packed house that saw Thompson’s jersey retired.
Two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry was in attendance as his Golden State Warriors teammate and fellow “Splash Brother” had his No. 1 jersey hung for perpetuity in the rafters of an unusually raucous Beasley Coliseum.
“It was awesome for anyone,” Bonton said. “Having Steph Curry and Klay Thompson cheering you on, especially with what Klay means for Pullman and WSU. It was really special to have that environment and they just kept pushing for us. That’s awesome having two NBA superstars, Hall of Famers right at your side."
Thompson was emotional during the halftime ceremony and active on the sidelines throughout the game, fist-pumping and firing up the 10,380 fans. Video tributes to Thompson by his former USA basketball coach, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski, plus former Washington State and current Virginia coach Tony Bennett and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr were shown.
“Surpassed all my expectations,” Thompson said. “Just to see the city and the building. There is nothing like Coug love, I’ve come to realize. I meant that when I said I am traveling around the country and I hear ‘Go Cougs’ all the time. It’s a special kinship when someone says that to you. And I feel the energy tonight. I want to go out there and play so badly. But its OK to be a spectator. These young boys are really doing it.”
In three seasons as a starter at Washington State, Thompson played 98 games, averaging 17.9 points per contest. By the time he left after his junior season, he had scored 1,756 points (third in school history) and made what then was a school-record 242 3-pointers. He was the 11th overall pick by the Warriors in the 2011 NBA Draft.
“Each year I was in Pullman I had to grow,” Thompson said. “In my freshman year, I had so many great leaders on our team as far as veterans, you know, Daven (Harmeling), Taylor Rochestie was such a great team player, such a great point guard. When they left, I had to kind of step into that spotlight, that main go-to guy role. I took my lumps and had my slumps but those made me so much stronger.”
The arrival of the Splash Brothers in Pullman seemed not only to energize the crowd but also the players of Washington State (12-7, 3-3 Pac 12), who completed their first sweep over the Oregon schools since January 2011 and first home Pac-12 sweep since 2013.
“It was great. I knew it was going to be an emotional weekend with a lot of distractions but our guys really handled it well,” said Washington State coach Kyle Smith. “We barely practiced yesterday because when Klay showed up practice was basically over but our guys were really pumped, certainly wanting to please him. All the kind things he said about his experience here were great, great for recruiting. Great for everything.”
Bonton had his eighth straight double-digit scoring game, shooting 8 of 13 from the field, including four 3-pointers and went 14 of 14 from the free-throw line. He also had eight rebounds and eight assists.
“Tonight he just played spectacular,” CJ Elleby said about his teammate. “Whenever the ball was in his hands I just knew something special was going to happen. He was electric out there tonight. And the crowd and the energy in the building were amazing.”
Elleby’s 22-point and nine-rebound performance came two days after he scored 25 and had a career-best 14 rebounds against No. 8 Oregon. Noah Williams had 17 points for the Cougars, a season high for the freshman.
Oregon State (12-6, 2-4 Pac 12) dominated the Cougars inside, winning the battle in the paint 54-32, but gave up 29 fast-break points and couldn’t stop Elleby and Bonton from scoring.
Tres Tinkle had 22 points and Ethan Thompson scored 14 for the Beavers.
In a back-and-forth first half, Washington State went on a 9-0 run with 1:31 remaining to take a 46-40 lead at the break.
In the second, Washington State went on a 10-0 run with 7:33 remaining to take a 69-56 lead. Oregon State responded with a 7-0 run of their own to get within six but that was the closest they got.
“Tough one for us. We didn’t defend nearly as well as we needed to. Got to give them credit,” said Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle. “They took a lot of shots we wanted them to take and made them. But they never took their foot off the pedal. Eighty-nine points is obviously tough to overcome.”
EXTRA-ADDED ATTRACTION
Three of Bonton's points came on a shot from just inside halfcourt that banked in and had Thompson jumping up and down in celebration. The Cougars led at halftime 46-40.
BIG PICTURE
Oregon State: The Beavers go 0-2 on the road against the Washington schools. The loss against the Cougars snaps the Beavers' five-game winning streak in Pullman.
Washington State: The Cougars bested their win total from a season ago with a sweep of the Oregon schools. Washington State is 10-2 at home on the year including three wins in conference play.
UP NEXT
Oregon State: The Beavers host UCLA Thursday
Washington State: The Cougars play at Colorado on Thursday
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1st Half
ORST
Beavers
40
WSU
Cougars
46
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Oregon State
19:33
+2
Alfred Hollins made layup, assist by Kylor Kelley
2-0
19:06
+2
Jeff Pollard made hook shot, assist by Isaac Bonton
2-2
18:41
+2
Ethan Thompson made jump shot
4-2
18:21
Jervae Robinson missed layup
18:19
Offensive rebound by CJ Elleby
18:14
CJ Elleby missed layup
18:12
Defensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
18:05
Zach Reichle missed layup, blocked by Isaac Bonton
18:03
Defensive rebound by Jeff Pollard
17:58
Personal foul on Zach Reichle
17:58
CJ Elleby missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:56
Defensive rebound by Alfred Hollins
17:43
Lost ball turnover on Ethan Thompson, stolen by Jervae Robinson
17:39
+2
Noah Williams made dunk, assist by Isaac Bonton
4-4
17:21
+2
Ethan Thompson made layup
6-4
17:00
+2
Isaac Bonton made layup
6-6
16:45
Alfred Hollins missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:43
Defensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
16:36
+2
Noah Williams made layup, assist by CJ Elleby
6-8
16:11
+2
Tres Tinkle made layup
8-8
16:04
+2
Noah Williams made jump shot, assist by Isaac Bonton
8-10
15:48
Personal foul on CJ Elleby
15:33
+2
Tres Tinkle made jump shot
10-10
15:06
Jeff Pollard missed layup, blocked by Kylor Kelley
15:04
Offensive rebound by Jervae Robinson
14:50
Jervae Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:48
Defensive rebound by Ethan Thompson
14:42
Ethan Thompson missed layup
14:40
Defensive rebound by Jeff Pollard
14:35
Bad pass turnover on Isaac Bonton
14:20
Zach Reichle missed layup
14:18
Offensive rebound by Kylor Kelley
14:20
+2
Kylor Kelley made dunk
12-10
14:10
Noah Williams missed layup, blocked by Tres Tinkle
14:08
Offensive rebound by Washington State
14:00
+3
DJ Rodman made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by CJ Elleby
12-13
13:41
+2
Alfred Hollins made jump shot
14-13
13:17
Jeff Pollard missed layup
13:15
Defensive rebound by Zach Reichle
12:52
Kylor Kelley missed turnaround jump shot
12:50
Defensive rebound by DJ Rodman
12:28
Aljaz Kunc missed jump shot
12:26
Defensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
12:28
Tres Tinkle missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:26
Offensive rebound by Oregon State
12:12
+2
Tres Tinkle made layup, assist by Alfred Hollins
16-13
11:52
CJ Elleby missed jump shot
11:50
Defensive rebound by Ethan Thompson
11:20
Shooting foul on Isaac Bonton
11:20
Ethan Thompson missed 1st of 2 free throws
11:20
+1
Ethan Thompson made 2nd of 2 free throws
17-13
10:59
CJ Elleby missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:57
Defensive rebound by Jarod Lucas
10:40
+2
Tres Tinkle made layup, assist by Sean Miller-Moore
19-13
10:16
+3
DJ Rodman made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Isaac Bonton
19-16
54.0
Lost ball turnover on Tres Tinkle, stolen by DJ Rodman
9:46
Lost ball turnover on Aljaz Kunc, stolen by Ethan Thompson
9:40
Ethan Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:38
Defensive rebound by Jervae Robinson
9:32
Offensive foul on Jervae Robinson
9:46
Turnover on Jervae Robinson
9:20
Ethan Thompson missed layup
9:18
Defensive rebound by DJ Rodman
9:10
+2
Isaac Bonton made jump shot
19-18
8:51
Personal foul on Jeff Pollard
8:42
+2
Roman Silva made layup
21-18
8:23
+2
CJ Elleby made layup
21-20
8:23
Shooting foul on Zach Reichle
8:23
+1
CJ Elleby made free throw
21-21
8:06
+2
Gianni Hunt made layup, assist by Jarod Lucas
23-21
8:06
Shooting foul on Jervae Robinson
8:06
+1
Gianni Hunt made free throw
24-21
7:52
Shooting foul on Jarod Lucas
7:52
+1
Isaac Bonton made 1st of 2 free throws
24-22
7:52
+1
Isaac Bonton made 2nd of 2 free throws
24-23
7:29
+2
Sean Miller-Moore made layup, assist by Roman Silva
26-23
7:11
+2
CJ Elleby made jump shot
26-25
6:55
+2
Ethan Thompson made floating jump shot
28-25
6:35
CJ Elleby missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:33
Defensive rebound by Gianni Hunt
6:23
+2
Kylor Kelley made alley-oop shot, assist by Tres Tinkle
30-25
6:07
Shooting foul on Alfred Hollins
6:07
+1
Isaac Bonton made 1st of 2 free throws
30-26
6:07
+1
Isaac Bonton made 2nd of 2 free throws
30-27
5:48
Tres Tinkle missed jump shot
5:46
Defensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
5:39
Isaac Bonton missed jump shot
5:37
Offensive rebound by CJ Elleby
5:37
Shooting foul on Alfred Hollins
5:35
+1
CJ Elleby made 1st of 2 free throws
30-28
5:35
+1
CJ Elleby made 2nd of 2 free throws
30-29
5:16
+2
Gianni Hunt made driving layup
32-29
5:06
Personal foul on Gianni Hunt
4:59
Jeff Pollard missed jump shot
4:57
Defensive rebound by Jarod Lucas
4:57
Personal foul on Aljaz Kunc
4:50
Ethan Thompson missed layup
4:48
Defensive rebound by CJ Elleby
4:40
+3
Isaac Bonton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by CJ Elleby
32-32
4:13
Kylor Kelley missed turnaround jump shot
4:11
Defensive rebound by Aljaz Kunc
4:04
Isaac Bonton missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:02
Defensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
3:55
+2
Kylor Kelley made dunk, assist by Antoine Vernon
34-32
3:33
+2
CJ Elleby made jump shot
34-34
3:07
Shooting foul on Aljaz Kunc
3:07
+1
Jarod Lucas made 1st of 2 free throws
35-34
3:07
+1
Jarod Lucas made 2nd of 2 free throws
36-34
2:41
Isaac Bonton missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:39
Defensive rebound by Kylor Kelley
2:17
+2
Ethan Thompson made dunk, assist by Kylor Kelley
38-34
2:05
+3
CJ Elleby made 3-pt. jump shot
38-37
1:40
Personal foul on CJ Elleby
1:40
+1
Tres Tinkle made 1st of 2 free throws
39-37
1:40
+1
Tres Tinkle made 2nd of 2 free throws
40-37
1:31
+2
CJ Elleby made jump shot
40-39
1:11
Tres Tinkle missed floating jump shot
1:09
Defensive rebound by CJ Elleby
1:09
Personal foul on Tres Tinkle
1:09
+1
CJ Elleby made 1st of 2 free throws
40-40
1:09
+1
CJ Elleby made 2nd of 2 free throws
40-41
52.0
Tres Tinkle missed 3-pt. jump shot
50.0
Defensive rebound by Noah Williams
31.0
Shooting foul on Antoine Vernon
31.0
+1
Isaac Bonton made 1st of 2 free throws
40-42
31.0
+1
Isaac Bonton made 2nd of 2 free throws
40-43
3.0
Traveling violation turnover on Zach Reichle
1.0
+3
Isaac Bonton made 3-pt. jump shot
40-46
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
ORST
Beavers
36
WSU
Cougars
43
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:39
DJ Rodman missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:37
Defensive rebound by Kylor Kelley
19:10
+3
Zach Reichle made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Alfred Hollins
43-46
18:55
Shooting foul on Alfred Hollins
18:55
Noah Williams missed 1st of 2 free throws
18:55
+1
Noah Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
43-47
18:36
+2
Ethan Thompson made turnaround jump shot, assist by Alfred Hollins
45-47
18:21
DJ Rodman missed layup, blocked by Kylor Kelley
18:19
Defensive rebound by Alfred Hollins
18:13
Alfred Hollins missed layup, blocked by Noah Williams
18:11
Defensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
18:05
+3
CJ Elleby made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Isaac Bonton
45-50
17:51
Alfred Hollins missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:49
Defensive rebound by DJ Rodman
17:41
Noah Williams missed floating jump shot
17:39
Defensive rebound by Ethan Thompson
17:30
Zach Reichle missed jump shot
17:28
Defensive rebound by CJ Elleby
17:30
Personal foul on Zach Reichle
17:16
Bad pass turnover on Isaac Bonton, stolen by Kylor Kelley
16:53
Zach Reichle missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:51
Defensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
16:46
Shooting foul on Gianni Hunt
16:46
+1
Noah Williams made 1st of 2 free throws
45-51
16:46
+1
Noah Williams made 2nd of 2 free throws
45-52
16:33
Personal foul on Noah Williams
16:29
Personal foul on Noah Williams
16:29
Tres Tinkle missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:27
Defensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
16:10
DJ Rodman missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:08
Defensive rebound by Gianni Hunt
15:55
+2
Tres Tinkle made layup, assist by Ethan Thompson
47-52
15:37
CJ Elleby missed layup, blocked by Kylor Kelley
15:35
Defensive rebound by Ethan Thompson
15:31
Offensive foul on Ethan Thompson
15:31
Turnover on Ethan Thompson
15:23
Bad pass turnover on CJ Elleby
15:00
Tres Tinkle missed jump shot
14:58
Defensive rebound by Jeff Pollard
14:49
Jervae Robinson missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:47
Offensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
14:28
DJ Rodman missed jump shot
14:26
Defensive rebound by Ethan Thompson
13:59
Shooting foul on DJ Rodman
13:59
Kylor Kelley missed 1st of 2 free throws
13:59
+1
Kylor Kelley made 2nd of 2 free throws
48-52
13:39
+3
Isaac Bonton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Noah Williams
48-55
13:18
Shooting foul on Isaac Bonton
13:18
+1
Ethan Thompson made 1st of 2 free throws
49-55
13:18
+1
Ethan Thompson made 2nd of 2 free throws
50-55
12:59
+2
Jeff Pollard made layup, assist by Noah Williams
50-57
12:36
+3
Gianni Hunt made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Sean Miller-Moore
53-57
12:12
+2
Jeff Pollard made layup, assist by Noah Williams
53-59
11:56
+2
Tres Tinkle made floating jump shot
55-59
11:56
Shooting foul on CJ Elleby
11:58
+1
Tres Tinkle made free throw
56-59
11:40
Personal foul on Gianni Hunt
11:39
CJ Elleby missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:37
Defensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
11:29
Offensive foul on Roman Silva
11:29
Turnover on Roman Silva
11:07
+2
Noah Williams made driving layup
56-61
10:35
Lost ball turnover on Tres Tinkle, stolen by DJ Rodman
10:27
Personal foul on Gianni Hunt
10:27
+1
Noah Williams made 1st of 2 free throws
56-62
10:27
Noah Williams missed 2nd of 2 free throws
10:27
Defensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
10:03
Ethan Thompson missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:01
Offensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
9:55
Lost ball turnover on Kylor Kelley
9:43
+2
Isaac Bonton made floating jump shot
56-64
9:12
Out of bounds turnover on Jarod Lucas
8:55
+3
Isaac Bonton made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by CJ Elleby
56-67
8:28
Jarod Lucas missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:26
Defensive rebound by Washington State
8:09
Jeff Pollard missed layup
8:07
Defensive rebound by Tres Tinkle
7:45
Tres Tinkle missed layup
7:43
Defensive rebound by Isaac Bonton
7:33
Shooting foul on Ethan Thompson
7:33
+1
Isaac Bonton made 1st of 2 free throws
56-68
7:33
+1
Isaac Bonton made 2nd of 2 free throws
56-69
7:17
+2
Tres Tinkle made jump shot, assist by Kylor Kelley
58-69
7:17
Shooting foul on DJ Rodman
7:17
+1
Tres Tinkle made free throw
59-69
7:01
Isaac Bonton missed jump shot
6:59
Defensive rebound by Zach Reichle
6:54
+2
Sean Miller-Moore made alley-oop shot, assist by Tres Tinkle
61-69
6:49
Lost ball turnover on CJ Elleby, stolen by Tres Tinkle
6:43
+2
Tres Tinkle made layup
63-69
6:26
+2
Jeff Pollard made layup, assist by Isaac Bonton
63-71
6:01
Tres Tinkle missed layup
5:59
Offensive rebound by Sean Miller-Moore
5:54
+2
Sean Miller-Moore made dunk
65-71
5:34
Isaac Bonton missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:32
Offensive rebound by DJ Rodman
5:18
+2
Jeff Pollard made layup, assist by Isaac Bonton
65-73
4:58
Tres Tinkle missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:56
Defensive rebound by CJ Elleby
4:36
Offensive foul on Jeff Pollard
4:36
Turnover on Jeff Pollard
4:19
Bad pass turnover on Ethan Thompson, stolen by Isaac Bonton