SPOKANE, Wash. — When the shots weren’t dropping for Washington State’s Derrick Low earlier in the weekend, he and roommate Daven Harmeling tried something new.
“We prayed to the Spokane Arena gods to have mercy on us when we are shooting,” Low said Sunday, after hitting six 3-pointers to lead No. 9 Washington State to a 71-62 comeback victory over Air Force in the Cougar Hispanic College Fund Challenge tournament.
Low made 6-of-8 3-pointers and a free throw, all in the second half, to help Washington State (6-0) erase a 30-26 halftime deficit.
The arena gods weren’t so helpful to Harmeling, who finished with only four points on 2-of-5 shooting and missed two free throws. “He didn’t get heard,” Cougars coach Tony Bennett said jokingly.
Air Force (5-2) opened hot, making 6-of-12 3-pointers in the first half and holding a 40-37 lead with 13:42 left.
But the Cougars went on a 14-0 run while over almost seven minutes to build a 51-40 lead. Air Force battled back to 68-62 in the closing seconds.
Taylor Rochestie had 22 points and Kyle Weaver added 15 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Cougars.
Tim Anderson scored 15 points for Air Force, which lost its second consecutive game.
“In the second half they showed why they are ranked so high,” Anderson said.
