Stories by Theo Lawson for the Spokesman-Review

Sports > WSU basketball

First-half drought costs Washington State in 77-70 loss to Utah

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 18, 2018

Malachi Flynn scored 20 points, Robert Franks chipped in 18, but the other nine Cougars combined to score just 32 in a 77-70 loss to the Utes in front of 2,924 at Beasley Coliseum.

Sports > WSU football

Washington State outside receivers coach Derek Sage to join Chip Kelly at UCLA

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 16, 2018

It isn’t clear what capacity he’ll serve at UCLA, but Sage also becomes the second WSU assistant poached by first-year Bruins coach Chip Kelly, who hired Cougars outside linebackers coach Roy Manning as his special teams coordinator last month.

Sports > WSU basketball

Video: Washington State players Robert Franks, Malachi Flynn and Viont’e Daniels post Colorado

Thu., Feb. 15, 2018

WSU players Robert Franks, Malachi Flynn and Viont’e Daniels talk about the Cougars’ 73-69 win over Colorado Thursday night at Beasley Coliseum.

Sports > WSU basketball

Video: Washington State coach Ernie Kent post Colorado

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 15, 2018

Cougars coach Ernie Kent talks about the play of sophomore point guard Malachi Flynn and the team’s toughness in a 73-69 victory over Colorado Thursday night at Beasley Coliseum.

Sports > WSU basketball

Slump-breaker: Washington State gets tough in 73-69 Pac-12 win over Colorado

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 15, 2018

Throughout Washington State’s prolonged slump, Ernie Kent has begged and pleaded for a tougher, more resilient group of Cougars. It was a long wait, but the Cougars finally delivered on their coach’s wish, fighting to the finish for a 73-69 win over the Colorado Buffaloes Thursday night at Beasley Coliseum.

Sports > High school sports

Led by Jake Wells, Pullman cruises by West Valley 58-47 for District 7 championship

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 14, 2018

PULLMAN – Their coach was battling a case of Bronchitis, their top player was still getting over his flu and at least four other Pullman players were afflicted by a team-wide bug that caught the Greyhounds during their 12-day district tournament layoff. Supposedly, the Hounds were sick as dogs. It never truly showed Wednesday night in the District 7 championship game.

Sports > WSU football

Source: Washington State strength and conditioning coach Jason Loscalzo to join Chicago Bears

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 14, 2018

Loscalzo, who’s been with the Cougars since Mike Leach’s first season in Pullman, will work in the same capacity with the Bears. Loscalzo replaces former Chicago strength coach Jason George, who was informed last month by the club he wouldn’t be returning for a fourth season.

Sports > WSU basketball

Washington State’s goals ‘evolving’ as Cougars head into final six Pac-12 games

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 14, 2018

The Washington State Cougars believe they still have some good basketball in them, but now that most – if not all – of their tangible preseason goals are wiped out, finding new sources of motivation could pivotal for Ernie Kent’s club as it begins the final third of its Pac-12 slate.

Sports > WSU basketball

Video: Washington State coach Ernie Kent news conference Feb. 13

Tue., Feb. 13, 2018

Washington State coach Ernie Kent talks extensively about trying to rebuild the Cougar basketball program, the influence of first-year assistant coach Bennie Seltzer and this week’s home swing against Colorado and Utah. Part 1:

Sports > NCAA basketball

How we voted: More shakeup at the top and more drama in the Big Ten Conference

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 12, 2018

The Spokesman-Review’s Theo Lawson explains how he voted in the Associated Press Top 25 with five general thoughts on this week’s poll, a few notes on the Pac-12 and an update on local Top 25 representative Gonzaga.

Sports > WSU football

Report: Nevada’s Mason Miller hired as Washington State offensive line coach

Sun., Feb. 11, 2018

An offensive line coach with a strong Air Raid background is reportedly coming to Washington State to join Mike Leach’s staff.

Sports > WSU basketball

Without Robert Franks, Washington State offense finds new low in 84-57 loss to Oregon

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 11, 2018

Franks’ presence may not have necessarily saved WSU at Matthew Knight Arena, but the Cougars certainly missed their junior forward’s versatility in an 84-57 loss to the Ducks in front of 9,419 fans in Eugene.

Sports > WSU basketball

Video: Washington State coach Ernie Kent post Oregon

Sun., Feb. 11, 2018

Washington State coach Ernie Kent talks about the 84-57 loss to Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena and the challenges of rebuilding the program in Pullman.

Sports > WSU basketball

Video: Washington State players Malachi Flynn and Davante Cooper post Oregon

Sun., Feb. 11, 2018

Washington State players Malachi Flynn and Davante Cooper reflect on the Cougars’ 84-57 loss to Oregon at Matthew Knight Arena.

Sports > WSU basketball

Coming off 32-point loss, Washington State takes six-game skid, depleted roster to Eugene

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 10, 2018

During the early, promising stages of the 2017-18 Washington State season that feel almost prehistoric at this point, the Cougars managed to fend off one of the college basketball programs their head coach presided over long before his career arrived in Pullman.

Sports > WSU football

Washington State to hold 15 spring practices, April 21 Crimson and Gray game

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 8, 2018

The Crimson and Gray game will be held in Spokane at 1 p.m. on April 21 – the second-to-last official spring practice for the Cougars, who close three days later with a 3:30 p.m. workout in Pullman.

Sports > WSU football

Washington State fills in remaining gaps, adding four more on National Signing Day

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 7, 2018

On Wednesday, the Cougars added a variety of positional players from a variety of backgrounds. Two were previously committed to other Power Five programs before coaching changes. One was plucked from the Juco ranks. The other has only a few years of American football under his belt.

Sports > WSU basketball

Washington State heads to Oregon State hoping to snap out of five-game skid

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 7, 2018

Washington State basketball players are cognizant of the fact that they currently sit in the Pac-12’s basement and it’s not much use reminding them of all the ways they’ve regressed since their golden month of November.

Sports > WSU football

Washington State offensive line coach Clay McGuire accepts position at Texas Tech

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 7, 2018

McGuire has spent the last six years coaching the offensive line at WSU and has worked under Cougars Mike Leach for the last 10 years, spending four seasons as the Red Raiders’ running backs coach.

Sports > WSU football

National Signing Day live thread: Washington State football rounds out 2018 recruiting class

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 7, 2018

Mike Leach and his staff knocked out a bulk of their recruiting in December during the NCAA’s new early signing period, inking 20 high school and junior college prospects – a handful of whom are already on campus in Pullman.

Sports > Area sports

Video: Washington State baseball coach Marty Lees news conference Feb. 6

Tue., Feb. 6, 2018

Washington State baseball coach Marty Lees provides an outlook on the 2018 Cougars and talks about how the weather has helped the team prepare for the season. Part one