Cougars look to continue hot start

PULLMAN – Washington State has shown that it can beat teams that like to get out and run. If the Cougars can beat a methodical Oregon State team today (Saturday) then WSU (9-7, 3-1 Pac-12) could be in for a special start to the conference season. The Cougars have not begun conference play with a 4-1 record since the 2007-08 season. WSU has won three consecutive games, the last two by outracing Washington and Oregon. Thursday’s Pac-12 home-opening win over the Ducks was a matchup between the conference’s two last-place scoring defenses and the results were predictable in WSU’s 108-99 overtime victory. But OSU (11-5, 2-2) boasts the Pac-12’s No. 2 scoring defense – and its worst scoring offense – and will present a different challenge for the Cougars. The Beavers will be without third-leading scorer Victor Robbins, who will miss the next nine games because of a suspension for violating athletic department policy, meaning he will miss both games against the Cougars.