DENVER — Surrounded by family and friends, Derrick Low celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday.

Today, in an arena full of 19,000 college basketball fans, he hopes to celebrate a Sweet Sixteen.

Low, a 2004 'Iolani School graduate from Honolulu, is expected to play a key role for Washington State as the Cougars take on Notre Dame in an NCAA tournament second-round game at Denver's Pepsi Center.

Tipoff is set for 12:40 p.m. Hawai'i time; the game is expected to be shown live on KGMB-9 (Oceanic Channel 7).

The winner will advance to the Sweet Sixteen's East Regional semifinal at Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday, probably against No. 1-ranked North Carolina.

But yesterday, Low was relaxed and enjoying some rare family time. A gathering of about 12 people — including his father, Ken, older brother, Dustin, girlfriend, Lacey Lavarias, childhood best friend, Ryan Hirata, high school coach, Mark Mugiishi and youth coach Clyde Hirata — sang "Happy Birthday" in the lobby of the Hyatt in downtown Denver, just before Low blew out the candles on one of two cakes.

"This is good," Low said of his birthday.

But today could be even better.

A Cougar victory would make Low, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, the first player from Hawai'i ever to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. He's already the first ever to make it to the Big Dance's second round, a feat he also accomplished last year.

Washington State, the East's No. 4 seed, overcame a slow start in Thursday's opening round en route to a 71-40 rout of No. 13 Winthrop. The game was tied 29-29 at halftime.

Low said the Cougars (25-8) will need to find their rhythm quicker today against No. 5 seed Notre Dame (25-7).

"We have to be more alert from the start," said Low, who went scoreless in an 0-for-5 first half on Thursday. "We cannot wait this time. Notre Dame has a lot of weapons, and it could hurt us if we don't come out ready."

Low recovered from his sluggish start to make four of his five second-half shots, including three 3-pointers. He scored all 11 of his points in the first 10 minutes, 45 seconds after halftime, helping Washington State outscore the Eagles 21-4 during that stretch.

His performance was reminiscent of a Pac-10 Conference game at UCLA earlier this season, when he scored all 24 of his points after halftime.

"I think it starts with Derrick Low, your concerns about Washington State, because of that right there — the explosiveness at any time," Fighting Irish coach Mike Brey said. "I think one of the things that sets Washington State aside from a lot of other teams is how old they are. They've got men who have been together for a while, and he certainly is one of them.

"They never really panic. If they haven't made a shot for 10 minutes or 12 minutes or 20 minutes, they keep doing what they do every possession, every play ... it's consistent. (Low) is probably the best example of that, being poised and waiting for his time."

Waiting for his time included passing on an L&L plate lunch that was delivered to him at the Pepsi Center on Thursday but which he only got a couple nibbles of.

"I got the same thing I always get, a barbecue mixed plate," said Low, whose father picked up the meal on his way from Denver International Airport. "But I didn't get to enjoy it, because it was just a couple hours before game time and I didn't want to feel it during the game."

Should Washington State win today, Low can have his cake, have his L&L barbecue mixed plate lunch ...

And eat it, too.

NCAA SINGLE-GAME LEADERS

THROUGH YESTERDAY'S GAMES

SCORING

40 — Stephen Curry, Davidson vs. Gonzaga, first round

38 — Jack McClinton, Miami vs. St. Mary's, Calif., first round

35 — Joe Crawford, Kentucky vs. Marquette, first round

34 — Charles Rhodes, Mississippi State vs. Oregon, first round

33 — Tyrone Brazelton, Western Kentucky vs. Drake, first round

31 — Josh Akognon, Cal State-Fullerton vs. Wisconsin, first round

31 — Sonny Weems, Arkansas vs. Indiana, first round

30 — Kenny Hasbrouck, Siena vs. Vanderbilt, first round

29 — Jonathan Cox, Drake vs. Western Kentucky, first round

27 — Curtis Jerrells, Baylor vs. Purdue, first round

26 — Josh Carter, Texas A&M vs. Brigham Young, first round

26 — Garrison Carr, American U. vs. Tennessee, first round

26 — A.J. Abrams, Texas vs. Austin Peay, first round

26 — Pete Campbell, Butler vs. South Alabama, first round

REBOUNDS

16 — Jonathan Cox, Drake vs. Western Kentucky, first round

15 — Kelly Biedler, Mount St. Mary's, Md. vs. Coppin State, play-in game

Read Wes' blog on prep sports at http://blogs.honoluluadvertiser.com.

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.