Cougars open 4-0
PULLMAN – Tony Bennett’s debut as a head basketball coach on Friel Court was every bit as good as his debut on the road.
A week after opening the season 3-0 at the John Thompson Foundation Challenge in Milwaukee, the Cougars extended their record to 4-0 with an easy, convincing 67-44 win over Texas-San Antonio in their home opener Friday night.
“We had a good outing in Milwaukee over the weekend and to follow it up and not take a step backward was important,” Bennett said. “Being 4-0 and playing good ball, we’re in a good spot.”
It didn’t even matter that the Cougars went for a few first-half minutes without scoring. They still jumped out to a 21-3 lead, with the Roadrunners hitting just a layup and a free throw more than 12 1/2 minutes in.
Had it not been for a mild surge by the visiting Roadrunners (1-2), the final margin might have been greater.
“Another good start,” said junior Kyle Weaver, who with 12 points was one of four Cougars in double figures. “We’ve been doing it all season and we hope we can keep it up. We’ve been playing some good defense and knocking down some easy shots.”
As was the case in its opening-weekend play in Milwaukee, the Cougars’ new backcourt provided stability as they cruised to a win.
Newcomer Mac Hopson, a sophomore point guard, not only controlled the pace of the game but also scored a career high – and notched a game high – with 13 points. With the Cougars up 10-1 in the early stages of the game, Hopson made one of the night’s niftiest plays, dishing a loose ball underhanded to forward Ivory Clark, who sprinted down the floor all alone for a breakaway dunk.
“I’m just trying to be vocal on the court and get guys like Kyle and Ivory easy buckets,” Hopson said.
For the first time in four games this season, the Cougars didn’t shoot 50 percent from the floor but they came close, ending up at 49.1 percent and falling just one make shy of going over the mark. They also hit 40 percent of their 3-pointers, breaking down a 2-3 zone briefly used by Texas-San Antonio late in the first half. (The Cougars led 33-14 at the break.)
“A team is a direct reflection of its coach and Coach Tony is an energetic guy,” Clark said. “It’s more of a chemistry thing, and success brings that. I think that everybody feels happy to come to practice and we just have a good chemistry this year.”
As well as they have shot the ball from the field, WSU continues to struggle from the free-throw line, as the 4,018 fans in attendance witnessed. Making 9 of 15, the Cougars shot 60 percent or worse for the third time in four games.
But it mattered little against an overmatched opponent, and Bennett had his first home win as a collegiate head coach.
“We’re picked last in the Pac-10 and we have to have such an underdog mentality and a fighter mentality to do what we want to do,” he said.
Notes
Forward Daven Harmeling missed the game with a sprained ankle. Bennett said there is a chance he could return in time for Tuesday’s home game against Idaho State, but if that’s not the case he should be back in time to play next Saturday against Boise State. … Given their current level of play, there is a decent chance the Cougars could make it to their Dec. 5 home game with Gonzaga at 8-0. “Circled on the calendar,” Clark said of the game. … Guard Isaiah Allen led the Roadrunners with 13 points, and forward Keith Spencer had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.