Cougars’ ‘D’ corrals Cowboys

PULLMAN – So much for the defensive problems at Washington State University.

For a second consecutive game the Cougars held an opponent to less than 30 percent shooting from the floor, and Wyoming hit just four shots that weren’t layups as WSU (3-1) cruised to a 63-47 win.

“Great intensity,” WSU head coach Dick Bennett said. “It was a very gritty performance against a team that was super aggressive both in their defense and on the glass.

“We played our best basketball in the first 10 minutes of the game. That was as well as we’ve played.”

The easy win wasn’t all rosy for the Cougars, however. Randy Green, the lone senior on the team, apparently walked off the floor after being subbed out with 5 minutes and 12 seconds left and WSU up 56-39.

After the game, Bennett indicated Green wasn’t happy with being taken out – the guard had eight points and four steals, all in the first half – and apparently kept on going up the tunnel. A Beasley Coliseum employee said he watched Green leave the building in street clothes before the game’s conclusion.

As a result, Bennett indicated the senior, who was the lone remaining holdover from the Paul Graham era, has been kicked off the team.

“You don’t walk out on the team and expect to play,” Bennett said. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s done.”

Added point guard Derrick Low: “We didn’t see him (after the game). He was gone already.”

Green’s bizarre departure aside, WSU outclassed the visiting Cowboys in almost every way. Low had a game-high 15 points and Bennett called the sophomore’s offensive performance the best of his career. Kyle Weaver added another 15, to go with nine rebounds, six assists and five steals. All those numbers either set or matched personal career highs.

Sophomore big man Robbie Cowgill, playing his first game this season after a broken collarbone, scored on WSU’s first offensive possession and also dunked on a dribble-drive from beyond the 3-point line. Cowgill fouled out with six points in 18 minutes.

“A great team effort, a great defensive effort, and it felt good to be out there again,” Cowgill said. “We had 26 turnovers and still won by quite a few. As long as our defense was there, I think we can play with anybody.”

The Cougars’ 26 turnovers didn’t seem so bad as the Cowboys had 27. Sixteen came on WSU steals.

WSU has won its last two games by a combined 42 points, this win coming on the heels of the biggest blowout victory in the Bennett era.

Its next opponent, Kansas State, figures to be a much stronger opponent after moving to 4-0 on the season Wednesday night with a win against Cal State-Fullerton.