COUGARS

What did WSU learn in the first half? The most important lesson might have been how to play when Klay Thompson can't buy a basket. It's something that shouldn't happen all that often this season, but when it does – and it certainly did early in the game with EWU Monday – the Cougars are going to have to find offense somewhere. It was Reggie Moore, who had 11 first-half points, in this one. ... The Eagles took advantage, running out to a 17-9 lead with tough defense and offensive execution. And they did it with their starting posts on the bench, Brandon Moore with foul trouble and Mark Brunell with a gimpy left ankle that was retaped. Plus Benny Valentine did not score. ... Another thing they should have learned is defense can ignite an offense, something the Cougars exhibited the past few years. It was the WSU defense that caused the late-in-the-half comeback, closing the nine-point lead, and pulling away to lead by five. ... Another lesson, this one Thompson showed he's learned. If your shot is not falling – Thompson was 0 for 6 at one point – then you can always get to the line. Thompson was 4 of 6 from there before getting going from the field. He hit his last two 3-pointers and finished with 10 points.

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