Cougars stymie Knights

PULLMAN – Tuesday night’s non-conference game with Fairleigh Dickinson was a chance for the Washington State Cougars to compare themselves to one of the nation’s best teams.

Not the Knights.

Pittsburgh.

“The last two games we’ve gone against two incredible defensive teams,” said veteran Fairleigh Dickinson coach Tom Green, whose team opened the season last Friday night with a loss at sixth-ranked Pittsburgh. “Pitt played incredible defense but Washington State was every bit as good.”

By any objective measure, the Cougars’ was better in their 55-33 Legends Classic opening-round defeat of the Knights from Teaneck, N.J., in front of a sparse crowd of 6,159 at Beasley Coliseum.

After all, Fairleigh Dickinson shot 42.9 percent – 47.4 from beyond the arc – in its 86-63 loss to the Panthers. It shot 21.6 against the 2-0 Cougs, including just 1 of 11 beyond the 3-point arc.

Of course, the Cougars would have none of the comparison. They were too busy critiquing their play.

“As far as what it says about us as opposed to Pitt, we try not to get into trying to look at other teams,” said Caleb Forrest, one of nine Cougars to score, coming off the bench to chip in eight points. “We just try to play our ‘D’ and play our system.”

The biggest critique for senior point guard Taylor Rochestie, who finished with seven points and seven assists, was built around concentration.

“We need to not have those lulls,” he said, noting the Cougars settled for 18 3-pointers while getting only nine free throws. “That’s not only defensively and defensive rebounding, but that’s offensively (as well). I think sometimes when we get tired we get stagnant.”

The Knights’ ability to get to the glass – WSU won the rebound battle just 39-37, with FDU grabbing 15 offensive rebounds – allowed them to keep this one close for a half – 26-15 – despite hitting just six shots from the field.

But the suspense disappeared right after intermission when WSU went on a 19-4 run, keyed by freshmen Klay Thompson and an amped-up defensive effort.

Thompson, who finished just 4 of 11 from the floor for his nine points, came off Aron Baynes’ screens to hit two long jumpers that seemed to ignite WSU. He also had his only 3-pointer three minutes later, part of 13 unanswered points.

“You are going to have so much separation,” Thompson said of the 6-foot-10, 250-pound Baynes, who finished with eight points and eight rebounds. “I just love coming off Aron because I already have that mindset I’m probably going to get an open shot.”

The defense limited Fairleigh Dickinson to 2 of 13 shooting during the decisive stretch and forced four turnovers, one of which led to Green picking up a technical. The Knights’ leading scoring was Sean Baptiste, who tied WSU’s Nik Koprivica for game-high honors with 10. But it took Baptiste, a 6-3 guard who had nine rebounds, including five offensive, 13 shots.

The highlight of the final 10 minutes was a Forrest dunk over Kamil Svrdlik, finishing off a press break and marking the first time the senior had ever “dunked on anybody.”

Though the Legends Classic is billed as a tournament, the Cougars were moving on to next weekend’s semifinals in Newark whether they won or not. They’ll face Mississippi State with a second game against either Texas Tech or Pittsburgh. Before then, however, they play two home games. And they’re still searching for a few things.

“I’m looking for guys who can show me that, when they are out there, I can trust,” said WSU coach Tony Bennett.