WSU Cougars prepare for Notre Dame in NCAA Round 2

From left, Washington State players Daven Harmeling, Taylor Rochestie and AronBaynes laugh in the last minutes of a college basketball game against Idaho.

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Story Published: Mar 21, 2008 at 6:19 PM PDT

By Associated Press

DENVER (AP) - Washington State, the No. 4-seed in the East Region, is ready to face No. 5-seed Notre Dame on Saturday afternoon.

It's the second straight year the Cougars have advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Last year, Washington State lost to Vanderbilt in overtime.

The Cougars are coming off one of their strongest efforts in the second half of last night's 71-40 win over Winthrop in the first round. Washington State was tied 29-all at halftime, but outscored the Eagles 42-11 in the second half.

Their task on Saturday will be slowing down Notre Dame's Luke Harangody, who was the Big East player of the year. Harangody scored 18 points and grabbed 14 rebounds in Notre Dame's 68-50 win over George Mason in the first round.

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