Cougars Preach What They Practice

Washington State beat Idaho on Saturday. And Tuesday through Friday, for that matter.

While four Idaho starters watched the opening tipoff from the bench after a lackluster week of workouts, the Cougars came out sharp following three-a-day practices the previous four days, including a turkey day trio.

Practice didn’t make for a perfect win, but it was enough for the Cougars to score the first 11 points en route to a 70-65 men’s basketball victory over the Vandals before a poker-faced crowd announced at 2,926 at Friel Court. WSU has won the last three in this series and six of the last seven.

“I told them the story of when I was at Oklahoma State and coach (Eddie) Sutton would get us in for four-a-days during the holidays,” first-year WSU coach Paul Graham said. “That’s 12 hours a day, but we were always competing for the Big 12 and Big 8 championship.

“It’s not punishment, but we want to get better. For us to beat the teams we’ve got to play, we’ve got to be clicking on all cylinders.”

WSU improved to 2-1 by harassing a Vandals’ starting unit with just one regular, point guard Adam Miller. Idaho (1-2) had four turnovers and a missed layup while falling behind 11-0.

“With a good team like Idaho, you have to do what we did to them and that’s get on them early,” said Cougars senior JanMichael Thomas, who had nine of his game-high 24 points in the first five minutes.

When Clifford Gray, Kaniel Dickens, Gordon Scott and Devon Ford entered, Idaho kept constant heat on the Cougars, but never caught up on the scoreboard. Idaho’s usual first unit produced 57 of 65 points. Saturday’s starters went scoreless.

“The (starting five) is just as good as anybody that’s starting right now,” UI coach Dave Farrar said. “Most people make way too much out of who starts the game. Who finishes is more important.”

Countless times Idaho shaved down the Cougars’ lead only to see WSU respond. Often it was Thomas going one-on-one or sophomore wing Mike Bush scrapping for his career high in points (15) and rebounds (10). Bush’s two free throws restored WSU’s lead to seven with 43.5 seconds remaining. Earlier, senior Chris Crosby, who had 38 points against Idaho last year but was held to nine Saturday, slashed down the lane for a layup that put WSU ahead 65-57. More importantly, Crosby’s basket answered consecutive 3-pointers by Scott.

“That team just outplayed us as far as executing their stuff and making fewer mental mistakes,” said Scott, who finished with 23 points, including five 3-pointers in the second half. “We have to go out, give 110 percent and start doing things correctly and more efficiently.”

Idaho seemed to do just that after shooting 35 percent in the first half and committing 13 turnovers. The Vandals were within 27-24 only to see the Cougars ease away with the last five points of the half on Thomas’ two foul shots and Bush’s putback.

It was more of the same in the second half, though Idaho had just two turnovers and shot 55.6 percent. WSU had five 3-pointers - three 3s, Bush’s conventional three-point play and Thomas’ three free throws when he was fouled 21 feet from the hoop - to keep Idaho at bay.

“They did the same thing last year; they didn’t start Avery Curry,” Bush said. “I think their coach is trying to play mind games with us, but we knew Gordon and all of them were coming in sooner or later and they were going to play the bulk of the minutes. We had to play hard, get the lead early and when they came in, just sustain it.”

The Cougars face Gonzaga at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Arena. Fox Sports Net will televise the game. Idaho visits Eastern Washington at 7 p.m. Monday.

Washington State 70, Idaho 65

Idaho (1-2) - Watson 0-1 0-0 0, Monroe 0-0 0-0 0, Miller 0-2 0-0 0, McCoy 0-0 0-0 0, Lewis 0-1 0-0 0, Buoncristiani 0-1 0-0 0, Gray 5-7 2-4 12, Landrum 0-0 0-0 0, Logan 0-0 0-0 0, Ford 4-10 4-7 12, Scott 7-15 4-4 23, Dickens 3-5 4-9 10, Gershesske 3-5 0-0 8. Totals 22-47 14-24 65.

Washington State (2-1) - Riley 3-7 1-2 7, Crosby 3-8 3-4 9, Pengelly 1-4 1-3 4, Thomas 8-17 7-9 24, Bush 5-9 4-4 15, Graham 0-0 0-0 0, Adams 3-3 1-2 8, Evans 1-1 1-2 3, Whitehead 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 24-51 18-26 70.

Halftime - Washington State 32, Idaho 24. 3-Point goals - Idaho 7-16 (Scott 5-11, Gershesske 2-3, Miller 0-1, Buoncristiani 0-1), Washington State 4-15 (Bush 1-1, Adams 1-1, Pengelly 1-3, Thomas 1-8, Crosby 0-2). Fouled out - Gray, Riley. Rebounds - Idaho 28 (Ford, Dickens 5), Washington State 35 (Bush 10). Assists - Idaho 15 (Gray 4), Washington State 10 (Pengelly 9). Total fouls - Idaho 20, Washington State 19. A - 2,926.