The WSU men’s basketball team took the seventh-ranked Arizona Wildcats deep into the second half before faltering Thursday night, but responded with a win over Arizona State on Sunday.

The Cougars held up against the Wildcats’ potent offense throughout the game, but faltered midway through the second half en route to a 79-62 loss.

“The first eight minutes of the second half, Washington State really took it to us,” Arizona Head Coach Sean Miller said. “They are a much improved team from a year ago.”

Miller said the Wildcats watched WSU’s film against Cal and believes the Cougars could have won the game. He also said WSU has greatly improved since November.

Senior center Conor Clifford led WSU with 19 points and five rebounds. Clifford’s career-high in points led all scorers in the game.

Arizona sophomore guard Allonzo Trier played in his second game of the season and finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds, after being suspended for the team’s first 19 games. He tested positive for performance enhancing drugs during the beginning of the season.

“This is the second game for me in about 10 months,” Trier said. “Everybody is far ahead of me, and I am still not in a lot of rhythm. But as I continue to play more, I will find my way and get back to myself.”

Three days later, the Cougars maintained a second-half lead and held off the Sun Devils for a 91-83 win.

Netting a season-high in points scored, WSU’s offense was carried by seniors Josh Hawkinson and Ike Iroegbu, who both recorded double-doubles. Hawkinson scored a career-high 31 points and nabbed 10 rebounds while Iroegbu racked up 22 points and had 10 assists.

“I personally challenged them that they needed to carry us,’’ WSU Head Coach Ernie Kent said, “and they did it.’’

The Cougars defense also contained a high-scoring ASU offense throughout the game, holding the Sun Devils scoreless for the first four minutes of the game.

“For us to play the way we did against Arizona, it showed us that we can play with anyone,” Iroegbu said. “We know Arizona State is a scrappy team, so we just locked in on the game plan and just followed through.”

The Sun Devils’ smaller lineup and thin bench had trouble containing Hawkinson and the Cougars’ driving guards inside all game. The loss is the team’s fourth in its last five games. ASU Head Coach Bobby Hurley said the loss stings after the team built some momentum with an 86-75 win over Washington on Wednesday.

“They just wanted it more than we did,’’ ASU junior guard Shannon Evans II said. “Maybe we were focused on the wrong thing. I don’t know what it was, but they just played harder.’’

The Cougars return home from the desert and host No. 8 UCLA at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in Beasley Coliseum. The game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network.