COUGARS

Let's see. I've got 10 second-chance points for St. Mary's off seven offensive rebounds. Then there are the 11 points the Gaels have scored in transition. How about the 12 WSU turnovers? Add in the 17 points – and one Academy Award-winning flop – for Patty Mills, healthy again, and 12 from Diamon Simpson. A 13-point halftime deficit is the result as the Cougars are in midseason form. And by that, I mean the form they showed in their three-game Pac-10 losing streak. But in some ways this is worse. Because of the transition baskets. This is a team that prides itself in getting back, getting organized and wall off the basket in transition. The Cougars are not doing that tonight. And they're getting out-toughed on the offensive glass in a game that takes a blood-drawing hack to get a foul underneath. The Gaels aren't shooting well – 40 percent compared to the Cougs' 43 – but they have nine more shots. Maybe a 13-point deficit isn't all that bad. We'll be back at the end. Until then …

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