Brendon Lavender, driving on Tucson High's Jeremy Joe in Monday's MLK Classic, gets high praise from Kevin O'Neill.

James Gregg / arizona daily star

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UA recruiters look down the road Freshmen mean array of options Now that's a switch Like Fogg, Williams will come in unseen Cats gain one more of USC's recruits NY duo sure they can make it here It's not Rocket science: Chase faces challenge Hill goes No. 8 to Knicks Budinger traded to Houston RocketsHill chosen No. 8 overall by Knicks

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Washington State began erasing negative streaks years ago, even before it stopped a 38-game drought against Arizona in 2004-05.

But it was not until Sunday that the sixth-ranked Cougars finally snapped a 13-game losing streak to Oregon, a team whose frenetic style always seemed to take WSU out of its more methodical game.

The Cougars, who on Thursday will become the highest-ranked team this season to visit McKale Center, did it in their typical opportunistic manner, not only keeping Oregon 21 points below its scoring average but also committing only seven turnovers while scoring 21 points off the Ducks' 15 turnovers.

They finished the game on an 11-1 run despite trailing most of the game.

"When we're down, we're not out," WSU guard Kyle Weaver told reporters after the game.

Even though he has yet to face WSU, UA interim head coach Kevin O'Neill is not surprised by this success. So far, he said Monday, the Cougars' resilient play is characteristic of their senior-laden roster.

"They're a veteran team, a good veteran team," O'Neill said. "They're a very solid, very tough team."

Nor did it surprise UA assistant coach Josh Pastner, who has scouted the Cougars for years.

"They hit a lot of big shots, and they're extremely poised in general," Pastner said. "They keep their composure."

History suggests the Cougars will not be rattled by McKale Center. The Cougars have won two of the last three games played at UA, 70-62 in 2004-05 and 72-66 last season. They lost 66-61 during the 2005-06 season.

Even though O'Neill came on board after Mesa Mountain View's Brendon Lavender committed to UA last spring, and although Lavender is not considered a Top 100 recruit, O'Neill said he has been impressed with Lavender's potential.

"I think he's going to be an excellent all-around player," O'Neill said. "He shoots well, has good size, and he's going to be a good defender. I really like him."

O'Neill watched Lavender, who signed with UA in November, play for Mountain View on Monday in the MLK Basketball Classic at McKale Center.

Assistant coach Miles Simon was not at the Wildcats' practice Monday, after returning last weekend for games at Stanford and California. Simon left the team Jan. 10 to be with his ill grandmother, and there is no timetable for his return.

"I know Miles is taking care of some personal family matters, and I don't know when he'll return," O'Neill said.

● Not only has Arizona slipped out of The Associated Press Top 25, but the Wildcats also received no votes for this week's poll after losing at 20th-ranked Stanford last week. The Wildcats did receive two votes in the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll.

● Forward Jon Brockman, who will lead Washington against Arizona on Saturday, was named Pac-10 Player of the Week after averaging 23.5 points and 15.0 rebounds in the Huskies' wins over Oregon and Oregon State last week.