Cougs Rip Grambling In Sun Classic Consolation Well-Balanced Attack Produces Tournament-Record 46-Point Margin

Wed., Dec. 30, 1998

From Staff

Junior forward Chris Crosby and sophomore center Brian Stewart each tossed in 18 points Tuesday night as Washington State rambled past Grambling State, 114-68, in the consolation game of the Sierra Providence Sun Classic men’s basketball tournament.

The Cougars, who raced to an early 16-1 lead, set a tournament record with their 46-point margin of victory. The win came less than 24 hours after Monday night’s 76-66 first-round loss to the University of Texas-El Paso, the host team.

UTEP fell to Detroit 47-44 in Tuesday night’s championship game.

Sophomore forward Eddie Miller scored 17 points as part of an extremely balanced scoring attack for WSU (6-5). The Cougs also got 12 points from freshman guard Mike Bush. Crosby, who made seven of eight shots from the field, did most of his damage from long range, draining four of five 3-point tries. Stewart was 7 for 10 from the field and scored most of his baskets inside.

Miller led all rebounders with eight.

Grambling, which remained winless after 10 games, was led by Chris Thomas’ 17 points and eight rebounds. Kenneth Hayes contributed 14 points and Geramie Wilson added 10.

Washington State recorded 15 steals and forced eight other turnovers. The Cougars also benefited from torrid shooting, connecting on 39 of their 66 field-goal attempts - including 10 of 21 from 3-point range.

Grambling, meanwhile, managed to make only 21 of 62 basket tries and never threatened after falling behind 54-30 at intermission.

Senior Will Hutchens, a former walk-on, made a rare start for WSU and finished with nine points and a team-high five assists.

The Cougars return home to open their Pacific-10 Conference season on Sunday against the arch-rival Washington Huskies.

That game, which starts at 2 p.m., will be played in the Arena and will be televised live by Fox Sports Northwest.

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Cougs Rip Grambling In Sun Classic Consolation Well-Balanced Attack Produces Tournament-Record 46-Point Margin

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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