WSU leads 30-25 at half

COUGARS

What did WSU learn in the first half? The most important lesson might have been how to play when Klay Thompson can’t buy a basket. It’s something that shouldn’t happen all that often this season, but when it does – and it certainly did early in the game with EWU Monday – the Cougars are going to have to find offense somewhere. It was Reggie Moore, who had 11 first-half points, in this one. … The Eagles took advantage, running out to a 17-9 lead with tough defense and offensive execution. And they did it with their starting posts on the bench, Brandon Moore with foul trouble and Mark Brunell with a gimpy left ankle that was retaped. Plus Benny Valentine did not score. … Another thing they should have learned is defense can ignite an offense, something the Cougars exhibited the past few years. It was the WSU defense that caused the late-in-the-half comeback, closing the nine-point lead, and pulling away to lead by five. … Another lesson, this one Thompson showed he’s learned. If your shot is not falling – Thompson was 0 for 6 at one point – then you can always get to the line. Thompson was 4 of 6 from there before getting going from the field. He hit his last two 3-pointers and finished with 10 points.