BY TODD DYBAS / SEATTLESPORTSONLINE.COM

It took a mere 56 years, but Washington is once again the best team in the Pac-10.

Washington grinded, groaned and battled with Washington State Saturday afternoon, beating the Cougars 67-60. Quincy Pondexter led Washington with 16 points. Venoy Overton scores 14 and Jon Brockman had 18 rebounds in his final home game.

A 3-pointer from Justin Dentmon pushed the Washington lead to a game-high eight, 39-31, forcing Washington State to call a timeout. The process to the made shot was exact role execution. Brockman seals and takes in the Taylor Rochestie miss. The outlet to Thomas, who bounces up the court and throws it over his head, no-look, with his left hand to Dentmon who was waiting in the corner. Dentmon pump fakes Rochestie, he flies by. Dentmon takes a single dribble to reset his feet, then hits. With 15:29 remaining the Pac-10 title seemed well within reach.

But Cougars senior Taylor Rochestie would not allow the Huskies to get too far away. Rochestie hit two 3-pointers in the second half, including one with 4:20 left in the game that cut the Washington lead to two, 58-56. The next possession, Washington's Darnell Gant was called for a foul while setting a screen. Washington State received the ball back, down just two points with 3:55 remaining, positioned to be the ultimate spoiler.

Not to be. Washington snuffed out a play for Rochestie out of the timeout, forcing a miss from Caleb Forrest. Pondexter scored after driving at Nikola Koprivica. Washington's help defense then forced Rochestie into another turnover, which led to Overton finding Pondexter on the break for a layin, hiking the Washington lead to 62-56.

Isaiah Thomas scored late in the shot clock against Rochestie, and Washington called timeout to set up the defense by reinserting Justin Holiday for Thomas. Holiday flew at Forrest and forced a pump fake, then a dribble, and that resulted in a charge on Forrest drawn by Brockman.

Koprivica missed a 3-pointer and the Washington State fouling began, the clock winding down on the Cougars' postseason hopes while the Huskies' title grasp tightened.

Washington State's Klay Thompson was involved in pivotal back-to-back plays early in the second half. Thompson hit a 3-pointer, slashing the Washington lead to one. The following possession, Overton attacked him and Thompson was called for a foul, his fourth. Despite protests from Washington State coach Tony Bennett that the foul was committed by Koprivica, and claims from Koprivica himself, the call was not changed.

However, the game was. Washington went on a 6-2 run to push the lead back to 48-43. A follow by Rochestie brought the Cougars back within three points and prompted his coach to call timeout.

Thompson remained on the bench as Washington harassed the Cougars into turnovers. He didn't return until there were seven minutes left and the Huskies were back up by seven, 54-47.

A lob to Darnell Gant hiked Washington's lead to 30-25 at the half, capping a grind-and-bump first 20 minutes.

In the middle of the chippiness was Washington's Venoy Overton and Washington State's Taylor Rochestie. Both were giving performances that require SAG cards. Rochestie had the lead role, pretending to be tripped or knocked to the ground multiple times in the half, then turning to see of he received the call.

Overton threw his hands up to show he had been pushed with the force of hurricane winds, though Rochestie had given him a slight push. The two talked a lot. Rochestie approaching Overton when the Tacoma native stood on the foul line. Rochestie had a lot to say, Overton not appearing to mince words, the discussion ending when Pondexter escorted Rochestie away.

It was a Night at the Roxbury for most of the first half, neither team capable of scoring. The Cougars went into the half shooting 30 percent, the Huskies a touch better at 37 percent. The main misfires for Washington State coming from Rochestie, just 2-for-8 at the half. Isaiah Thomas countered on the Washington side, going 1-for7 from the field.

Leaving no questions about his health, Pondexter led Washington at the half with 10 points. Of his four field goals, three were deep jump shots, the junior often in an advantageous matchup with his Cougar counterpart.

Preceding the game, Dentmon, Brockman and Artem Wallace were honored for being seniors playing their last home game. The Cougars were not interested in the the festivities, staying in the back during the National Anthem and the senior day events. As soon as Washington left the court, Washington State emerged.

Todd Dybas is the editor of Seattlesportsonline.com. He can be reached via e-mail at tdybas@seattlesportsonline.com