Derrick Low scored 22 points to help Washington State upset No. 18 Gonzaga 77-67 on Tuesday night and improve one of the best starts in team history.

Daven Harmeling added 20 points for Washington St. (8-1), off to its best start since the 1996-97 season under new coach Tony Bennett. The Cougars overcame poor free throw shooting to break a seven-game losing streak to Gonzaga.

Many in the crowd of 10,755, largest at WSU in a decade, stormed the floor after the win.

Gonzaga (8-2) was led by Josh Heytvelt‘s 22 points. Derek Raivio added 21.

Trailing 66-63 with less than 4 minutes left, Washington State outscored the Bulldogs 14-1, including a pair of 3-pointers by Harmeling, for the win.

Kyle Weaver‘s 3-pointer gave WSU its first lead of the game at 45-44 with 16 minutes left.

The teams swapped several leads before a 9-0 Gonzaga run, the final six by Heytvelt, gave Gonzaga a 56-49 advantage.

The Cougars missed five of six free throws during a quick span after that. But Low’s 3-pointer capped an 8-0 WSU run for a 63-62 lead with 4:34 left.

Heytvelt replied with two free throws and a layup for a 66-63 Gonzaga lead.

But Washington State kicked off its closing run with two free throws by Kyle Weaver and Harmeling’s 3-pointer for a 68-66 lead with 2:44 left.

After the teams swapped free throws, Low made a layup and the free throw for a 72-67 lead with 1:26 left.

Raivio’s 3-pointer rimmed out and Harmeling sank another 3-pointer for a 75-67 Washington State lead with 42 seconds left.

Raivio scored 15 in the first half as Gonzaga took a 41-35 lead.

The crowd was the largest at WSU’s Friel Court since 11,463 watched UCLA at WSU in 1995. Crowds have averaged 3,000 in recent years.

Washington State is 74-3 at home against non-conference opponents in the past 16 years, with two of the losses to Gonzaga.