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PULLMAN, Wash. – Jamal Sampson and Ryan Forehan-Kelly scored 11 points each Thursday night as California defeated Washington State 77-56. 

It was the most decisive Pacific-10 road victory for California (18-5, 9-4) since a 73-43 win over Southern Cal on Feb. 12, 1998. 

The Bears outrebounded the Cougars 44-37 and had six blocked shots, including four by Sampson. 

With Washington State’s top post player, J Locklier, sidelined by injury, California used its height advantage to good effect. 

The Bears played four players who were 6-foot-10 or taller. The Cougars’ 6-foot-11 Pawel Stasiak, making his first start of the season, was Washington State’s tallest post player and WSU had no other players taller than 6-7. 

Mike Bush led Washington State (5-17, 1-13) with 14 points. 

Stasiak scored just three points, while the Bears quartet of post players outscored the Cougars post players 36-10. 

The Bears never trailed. Washington State got as close as 27-26 with 4:32 remaining in the first half on a Thomas Kelati 3-point shot, but California responded with a 13-4 run to end the half ahead 40-32. 

California opened the second half with a 22-10 run to take a 62-42 lead with 8:37 remaining.