Danny Gathings scored a career-high 29 points and added 14 rebounds, but Washington State held on at the end and edged the Panthers, 78-71, Saturday night at Spokane Arena.

It was the third close call this season against a big-name school for the Panthers, who lost by six (81-75) at Vanderbilt, and trailed Kentucky by just two in the second half earlier this month.

HPU placed four players in double-figures: Gathings, Joe Knight (15 points), Dustin Van Weerdhuizen (11 points) and Brent Halsch (10 points).

Thomas Kelati led WSU with 17 points.

The Panthers came out on fire. Gathings scored the game's first seven points, including a three-point play to make it 7-0 90 seconds into the game.

Washington State would awaken and put together a 17-3 run and lead by as many as nine before Justin Lyman nailed a big trey as the clock ticked down to give the Cougars a 38-30 advantage at halftime.

Lyman hit another big three to make it 60-46 with 8:31 left, but the Panthers eventually clawed within 62-58 with 4:55 to play on a Van Weerdhuizen trey.

But WSU made its final three field goals and five of its last six foul shots to provide the final margin.

The Panthers will celebrate the holidays and then open the home portion of their schedule against Campbell next Saturday at 7:00 pm in the Millis Center.