De La Fuente On Target In Cougs’ Season-Opening Win Senior’s Busy Off-Season, Focus On Shooting, Pay Off

There were times last season Rodrigo de la Fuente might not have located the basket with a global positioning device.

Thankfully for Washington State basketball fans, those times appear to be long gone.

The versatile senior guard made 5 of 7 field goals and 8 of 8 free throws as the Cougars won their opener Friday night, defeating NAIA Division I Central Washington 90-61 before a Friel Court crowd announced at 4,073.

De la Fuente, who shot 40.8 percent last season, has made 19 of 31 field goals through two exhibitions and the opener.

“We’ve worked a lot on shooting,” said de la Fuente, whose 19 points were a career high. “It helped a lot this summer to play with the Spanish national team.”

The Madrid native played with his country’s No. 2 national team in Italy before joining the 22-and-under team for a tournament in Australia. He played so much, in fact, he developed a sore Achilles tendon that slowed him during early practices with WSU.

Coach Kevin Eastman was pleased with the 6-foot-6 wing’s shooting, but he saw room for improvement.

“I removed him in the first half because he doesn’t need to be dribbling through three players against the press,” Eastman said. “Then he goes ahead and throws a lob pass just way too high and totally uncalled for.

“But we’re going to get good production from him this year.”

Sophomore wing Chris Crosby added 17 points. Sophomore point guard Blake Pengelly offset four turnovers with 13 points and four assists. Crosby and Pengelly each hit three 3-pointers as WSU made 7 of 9.

Senior forward Carlos Daniel added 11 points and six rebounds despite a case of the flu. JC transfer Kojo Mensah-Bonsu appeared rusty during his WSU debut, scoring two points in 19 minutes. The 6-4 wing is recovering from two arthroscopic surgeries on his right knee.

Tyce Nasinec (17 points) and Leon Johnson (13 points) led CWU.

Former Ferris point guard Justin Bursch suffered through a difficult night for CWU in his college debut, going 0 for 5 with three turnovers.

Bursch had trouble passing up pump fakes against WSU. He was whistled for two fouls in the opening 32 seconds and promptly took a seat next to third-year coach Greg Sparling.

WSU 90, Central Washington 61

Central Washington (61) - Nasinec 5-13 5-6 17, Johnson 6-12 1-3 13, Bursch 0-5 0-0 0, Fallon 2-7 0-1 6, Henning 1-1 0-0 3, Kennedy 0-0 0-0 0, Dubiel 3-5 2-2 11, Davis 3-9 0-3 8, Sackman 0-1 1-1 1, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Fraker 1-7 0-1 2. Totals 21-60 9-17.

Washington State (90) - Pengelly 4-6 2-5 13, Hutchens 2-4 0-0 4, Clark 1-3 0-0 2, Kazadi 3-7 3-4 9, Mensah-Bonsu 1-4 2-2 4, de la Fuente 5-7 8-8 19, Daniel 4-5 3-5 11, Anderson 0-0 0-0 0, Crosby 6-13 2-2 17, Stewart 0-3 2-2 2, Slotemaker 1-4 1-2 3, Nelson 3-4 0-0 6. Totals 30-60 23-30.

Halftime - WSU 45, CWU 26. 3-point goals - Nasinec 2, Fallon 2, Hennig, Dubiel 3, Davis 2, Crosby 3, Pengelly 3, de la Fuente. Fouled out - Fallon. Rebounds - Central 30 (Fallon 7), WSU 41 (Daniel 6, de la Fuente 6, Nelson 6). Assists - Central 9 (Fraker 4), WSU 16 (Daniel 4, Pengelly 4). Total fouls - Central 25, WSU 20. Technicals - de la Fuente. A - 4,073.

, DataTimes