WSU exhibits faults in easy win

PULLMAN – Washington State University has three days left until its season opener against UC Riverside, far from good news from head basketball coach Dick Bennett’s chair.

“We’ll have to be a whole lot better now,” he said after his team scored an easy 66-36 exhibition win against Lewis-Clark State College Tuesday night before 1,560 fans at Friel Court. “I just think we’ve got a lot to do. I saw a lot of reverting back to old habits.”

The Cougars shot the ball well throughout, but Bennett was more worried with defense he considered lackluster.

WSU took advantage of its much weaker NAIA opponent, which is 5-0 in regular-season play, by racking up easy steals and blocks.

But the half-court defense on which Bennett stakes his reputation was lacking at times and the head coach said he was concerned that better teams in the regular season would take advantage of the Cougars.

“As a team we need to come together and play a little bit harder,” sophomore guard Kyle Weaver said.

“We need to come out early and have that same intensity. That will help us in the long run.”

Weaver and shooting guard Josh Akognon led WSU with 13 points apiece, and each had 10 by halftime.

Akognon took 10 shots on the night, six from 3-point range, while Weaver needed just six attempts (and two free throws) to get his points.

“We came out to a good start,” Weaver said. “We shot the ball pretty well. In the future we need to get different types of scoring other than shooting. Because if that’s not working we don’t have anything else to fall back on.”

Bennett agreed, largely because he was displeased with the play of his big men inside.

Starting center Robbie Cowgill is out with a broken collar bone and will probably miss about two more weeks, which means WSU will have to turn to players with little to no experience in the paint.

Junior college transfer Ivory Clark (four points, six rebounds) impressed Bennett with his athleticism and has displayed potential in practices, but the coach said he has a long way to go.

“If Ivory could get some discipline and readiness he obviously has some tools,” Bennett said, “but again, I don’t think he’s going to block a lot of shots on some of these tough interior post players.”

He was less complimentary of another new post player, freshman Aron Baynes of Australia.

“I thought Aron looked like somebody shot him with a tranquilizer in the butt,” the coach said.

Sophomore center Chris Henry added six points and seven rebounds.

Freshman Chris Matthews took 11 shots to end up with 11 points off the bench. Guard Keith Scarbrough had 12 to lead the Warriors.

Notes

WSU wore white uniforms Tuesday night, and plans to use those as well as the gray home jersey and crimson road jersey they used last season. … Junior college transfer Rodney Edgerson, expected to play a significant role this season, has been cleared to participate in limited practice drills as he recovers from a back problem. Edgerson has not done any work with the team since arriving in Pullman, and his arrival on the court is still uncertain. … WSU scored more than 66 points in just three games last season.

For more on the Cougars, check out our free online report by Glenn Kasses at www.spokesmanreview .com/blogs/wsu WSU 66, Lewis-Clark State 36 Lewis-Clark State (36) – Harris 2-4 3-4 7, Tikker 0-4 1-2 1, Pitts 2-8 2-2 6, Durrett 2-10 1-2 5, Scarbrough 4-11 2-3 12, Brooks 0-2 1-4 1, Orr 2-4 0-0 4, Ward 0-0 0-0 0. Totals–– 12-43 10-17 36.

Washington State (66) – Harmeling 2-5 0-0 4, Baynes 1-1 0-0 2, Akognon 5-10 0-0 13, Low 3-4 0-0 7, Weaver 5-6 2-2 13, Campbell 0-2 0-0 0, Matthews 4-11 0-0 11, Green 1-3 1-2 3, Chavers 1-4 0-0 2, Clark 2-6 0-0 4, Henry 3-4 0-3 6, Forrest 0-1 1-2 1. Totals––27-57 4-9 66.

Halftime––Washington State 31, Lewis-Clark State 19. 3-Point goals––Lewis-Clark State 2-12 (Tikker 0-1, Durrett 0-3, Scarbrough 2-5, Brooks 0-1, Orr 0-2), Washington State 8-20 (Harmeling 0-1, Akognon 3-6, Low 1-2, Weaver 1-2, Campbell 0-1, Matthews 3-8). Fouled out––None. Rebounds––Lewis-Clark 31 (Harris 8), Washington State 35 (Henry 7). Assists––Lewis-Clark 2 (Durrett, Orr), Washington State 15 (Green 5). Total fouls––Lewis-Clark State 13, Washington State 19. Technical Fouls––Lewis-Clark State, Brooks. Attendance––1,560.