Cougars Welcome Two Back Ellison, Mack Return Tonight For Basketball Exhibition

The Washington State men’s basketball team will welcome starting point guard Donminic Ellison and power forward Tavares Mack back tonight when the Cougars host the Townsville Suns in a 7 p.m. exhibition game at Friel Court.

Ellison and Mack were suspended from last Friday’s exhibition win over High Five America after being charged as minors in possession earlier this fall.

Their return, according to WSU coach Kevin Eastman, should make a big difference in the way the Cougars attack the Suns, a touring Australian club team that is 3-2, with wins over Idaho and Eastern Washington.

“Anyone who watched us play last year knows how much having Donminic at the point means to this team,” Eastman said, after Friday’s exhibition.

“And Tavares had one of his best weeks of practice ever this week. At times, he was just dominating.”

The Cougars will have all five starters, who return from last year’s 18-12 team, available for tonight’s exhibition. But junior-college transfer Kareem Jackson will miss the game because of a severe ankle sprain and sophomore forward Carlos Daniel will be sidelined by a hip strain.

In addition, true freshman Bill Coby is questionable because of the flu.