ELLISON STARS AS WASHINGTON STATE BEATS CALIFORNIA 1/5/95 By MARK JEWELL Associated Press PULLMAN, Wash. -- Donminic Ellison scored 25 of his career-high 26 points in the second half to lead Washington State to an 83-71 Pacific-10 Conference victory over No. 17 California on Thursday night. The Cougars (5-3 overall, 1-0 Pac-10) outscored the Golden Bears (7-2, 0-1) 29-14 in the final 6:50 to win their first conference opener since 1991. The teams traded baskets early in the second half, with the lead changing hands 11 times in the first 11 minutes of the half. Cal, which shot just 6-16 from the free throw line in the first half, continued to have problems in the second period, hitting just three of its first 11 attempts in the second period. California took a 57-54 lead when Monte Buckley hit two free throws with 7:23 remaining. Ellison hit a 3-point shot with 6:50 remaining and then had another 3-point play when he was fouled on a lay-in and made the free throw. That put the Cougars ahead 60-57. Ellison hit two free throws a minute later, scored on another 3-point shot and then made two free throws to put the Cougars ahead 71-64 with 1:54 remaining. Washington State took its first lead at 11-9 when Chris Griffin scored from outside with 12:35 remaining in the first half. Randy Duck and K.J. Roberts hit 3-point shots on consecutive possessions to give Cal a 17-14 lead with 9:50 to go in the first half. The lead changed hands five more times in the half, with Duck hitting a jumper as time ran out to put California up 34-33 at halftime. California was led by Tremaine Fowlkes, who scored 14 points. Duck added 11. Other high scorers for Washington State were Carlos Daniel with 13 and Isaac Fontaine and Shamon Antrum with 12 apiece. WASHINGTON ST 83, (17) CALIFORNIA 71 - - Donminic Ellison scored a career-high 26 points, and Washington State pulled away down the stretch and beat number 17 California, 83-71, in the Pac-10 opener for both teams. The win improved Washington State to 5-3, and was its first conference-opening win since 1991. Carlos Daniel added 13 for Washington State, which outscored California 17-7 in the final two minutes of the game. The Cougars held a 66-64 lead with just over three minutes left in the game before Ellision scored the next five points to put them up by seven, 71-64, with 1:54 remaining. Ellison hit a three-pointer and followed with two free throws to put the game out of reach. California would not get closer than 11 points the rest of the way. Tremaine Fowlkes came off the bench to score 14 points for California (7-2), which has dropped two straight games following a 7-0 start. K.J. Roberts had 13 points and Monty Buckley added 12 points for the Golden Bears.