Cougars open basketball season vs. Roadrunners

The Washington State men’s basketball team opens its season tonight in Beasely Coliseum against Cal State Bakersfield. The Roadrunners are looking for their first win against a Pac-12 opponent in 13 tries. CSUB is coached by Rod Barnes, who in 2001 was named the Southeastern Conference coach of the year after guiding Mississippi to a 27-8 record and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. After a 93-56 pasting of Central Washington University in a preseason exhibition game, the Cougars will hope to continue the stifling defense and dominant rebounding they showed against the Wildcats. Brandon Barnes, the coach’s son, leads all returning Roadrunners with 12.1 points per game last season. While he was a power forward a season ago, he’ll be transitioning to his more natural position on the wing. The game will tipoff at 7 p.m. and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.