Everyone loves the underdog, whether it's Bryce Drew hitting a game-winning bucket for little Valparaiso in the NCAA tournament or Adam Sandler winning the gold jacket in Happy Gilmore.

Well, after four straight occurrences of Rocky Balboa knocking out Apollo Creed, I've had my fill of the underdog.

I'm talking about the current stretch of dominance by the Washington State basketball team over its rival Huskies.

It's cute at first when the little brother beats the older one in a game of horse, but after a while, big brother's going to get pissed and start throwing stuff.

In the case of the Huskies vs. WSU, it's almost reached the breaking point.

It started last year in Hec Edmundson Pavilion when the Cougars came out of nowhere in the second half to stun Washington 78-71. The momentum mounted a month later when they ran the UW out of the building 77-64, and it reached its crescendo when the Cougars annihilated Washington by 28 in Pullman this year.

Now, the Huskies can smell blood.

For the first time since the 2004-05 season, the Bennett ball parlor trick of an offense was stymied by the Huskies defense. It took a half, but the Dawgs just might have figured these guys out.

"We learned how to play them," said Husky captain Jon Brockman. "We played them tight, but personally, I want another shot."

The truth is, all of these Huskies should want another shot. Aside from bench mainstays Brandon Burmeister and Hans Gasser, not one Husky that has played any minutes this season has ever beaten WSU (Ryan Appleby doesn't count, he was in his limbo year due to transferring the last time the Huskies beat Washington State).

So, looking at what worked, it should seem pretty easy.

The Cougars had no answer for Brockman or Spencer Hawes down low. Collectively they scored 14 points and grabbed 12 boards in the second half (or as I like to call it, the half of enlightenment) and wreaked havoc in the paint on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Coach Lorenzo Romar also realized that putting a lengthy defender on WSU's scoring leader — Kyle Weaver — just might shut him down. Enter Adrian Oliver, whose defensive tenacity held Weaver to just four points in the second half.

Sprinkle in a little experience and what is left is a foolproof plan for beating one of the most painstakingly efficient offenses in the country.

"I wish the season lasted another month," Romar said. "This is a much better team than the last time we played these guys."

Indeed, losing by four is much more palatable than losing by 28, but it was also the way the Huskies played that gives hope for future bouts with Washington State. For the first time in two years, the Huskies were not overmatched and had multiple chances to win the game.

Enjoy it while it lasts, Cougars. You had your day in the sun, but next year don't be surprised when a much more experienced and proven Washington team becomes your daddy once more.

Reach columnist Justin Chartrey at sports@thedaily.washington.edu.