Denver, CO -- (Sports Network) - Derrick Low scored 18 points, and fourth-seeded Washington State cruised to a 61-41 rout of fifth-seeded Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, putting the Cougars in the Sweet 16 for the first time in school history.

Kyle Weaver had 15 points and nine rebounds for the Cougars (26-8), who move on to face either top-seeded North Carolina or Arkansas in an East Regional semifinal in Charlotte on Thursday. Robbie Cowgill added 12 points for Washington State, which has posted two impressive wins in the tourney so far.

"I think for us in this tournament we have to play solid defense to be competitive and to be in games and advance," said Cowgill. "Coach has been telling us all year, that's got to be our ticket. We have to be a very solid defensive team to be in games. I feel like we were in a league where a lot of good offensive talent, a lot of good offensive players, that obviously helps your team D. But I think the main thing is we know that has to be our bread and butter if we're going to do well in this tournament."

The Cougars ripped Winthrop, a team Notre Dame is all-too-familiar with, 71-40, on Thursday. Winthrop scored a first-round upset of Notre Dame in 2007.

Kyle McAlarney scored 12 points for the Fighting Irish (25-8), whose season ended after posting more wins than any season since 1973-74. Luke Harangody ripped down 22 rebounds and scored 10 points for Notre Dame, which was coming off an easy 68-50 win over George Mason on Thursday.

"You know, well, coming into this game, we were very confident," said Harangody. "We were ready to play. I don't think there was any doubt about that. But we faced a great Washington State team tonight. Like coach said, hats off to them. Very senior-leading team. Not much we can say about that. The feeling right now is disappointment, obviously, with myself, with my performance, you know. I kind of feel like I let the guys down. You know, just wasn't my night."

The Cougars stretched a 13-point halftime lead to 16 early in the second half, but the Fighting Irish finally mounted a charge.

McAlarney bookended a 9-0 push with a jumper, and then a three-pointer, and the latter pulled Notre Dame within 38-31 with 13:54 remaining. Low answered with a jumper and a layup, though, and Washington State pulled back away.

The Fighting Irish offense disappeared after that one flurry, only scoring 10 points the rest of the way. The Cougars didn't encounter the same struggles, though, and a 10-0 burst stretched a nine-point lead to 19.

Low drilled a three on the run, and Aron Baynes dropped in a layup to put the Cougars up 54-35 with 7:50 remaining.

The Cougars coasted to the finish line from there, locking up a first-ever Sweet 16 appearance.

Notre Dame led 7-5 early on, but Low took over, scoring seven straight points to fuel a 12-0 burst. Weaver's layup capped the run, and Washington State led 17-7 with 10:16 left in the half.

The Cougars pushed their advantage to 32-19 by the intermission.

Game Notes:

The Fighting Irish shot a miserable 13-of-53 from the field (24.5 percent), including 3-of-17 from behind the arc...The Cougars shot 44.4 percent from the field, but made only 4-of-17 threes (23.5 percent)...Baynes had 11 rebounds for Washington State...This was the first meeting between the schools on the hardwood.