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Even in Washington State’s finest performances early within the season, throughout the Cougar males’s stable begin to the yr, they left one query unanswered: How would they fare towards higher competitors?
WSU began the yr 8-1, however with wins over the likes of Grambling State, UC Riverside and Jap Washington, all of which rank within the 200s within the NCAA NET rankings, it felt honest to surprise concerning the begin. Had been the Cougars successful as a result of they’d the instruments to make it final, or as a result of they have been taking part in overmatched competitors?
With a 69-61 loss to Santa Clara (No. 137 NET) Saturday in Phoenix, the jury continues to be out on that query. Washington State didn’t appear like the identical staff that got here in driving a six-game successful streak.
“They made that run within the first half, and that’s the primary time we actually confronted any actual adversity. Type of kicked us within the tooth,” WSU coach Kyle Smith mentioned on the radio after the sport. “We truly began to get some stops on the finish of that first half, however defensively, they performed slightly otherwise. However sensible option to play us. They actually coated down our bigs and we didn’t make them pay.”
The Cougars (8-2) couldn’t full their comeback, together with a 10-0 run late within the second half, largely as a result of their offense sputtered for a lot of the recreation. WSU shot simply 33% for the sport. It made 7 of 26 photographs from past the arc. Redshirt freshman Myles Rice got here alive late with back-to-back three-pointers, totaling 12 factors, however due to foul bother, he by no means obtained going – and his staff’s offense suffered for it.
In keeping with a supply with direct information of the state of affairs, Rice needed to fly again to Atlanta throughout the week for his three-month checkup after recovering from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a health care provider’s appointment that went easily.
“It’s slightly fatigue, possibly,” Smith mentioned.
Washington State drew inside 5 factors with slightly greater than a minute to play, because of a side-step three-pointer from Rice on the earlier possession, however that’s about when the Cougars’ rally sputtered. Rice tried to drive to the basket, however he bumped into teammate Jabe Mullins, leading to a turnover and giving the ball again to Santa Clara, which sank 1 of two free throws.
On the opposite finish, the Cougars pushed the ball upcourt, the place ahead Isaac Jones dunked for his sixteenth and closing factors of the sport. He was pressured to foul on the opposite finish to cease the clock, and Washington State’s comeback bid ended there.
“We performed significantly better within the second half. We competed higher, for certain,” Smith mentioned. “I believed Isaac actually obtained on the glass. Andrej (Jakimovski) competed. Kymany (Houinsou) did a extremely good job defensively.”
WSU did play higher within the second half, with a 38-30 edge, however the Cougars lamented the primary half. Within the first 20 minutes, Santa Clara had a 23-1 run to vault forward 35-17. That’s when WSU’s offense hit a low level. The Broncos walled off the Cougars’ submit gamers, their largest supply of offense this season, and WSU didn’t have many different choices.
Jakimovski led the Cougars with 16 factors, however he wanted 16 photographs, together with a 1-for-5 mark from distance. He added 9 rebounds and had a number of key baskets within the second half, however with Jakimovski and Rice each out of types, Washington State didn’t know the place to show.
Down low? Nothing there. Outdoors? Pictures weren’t falling. Santa Clara dared WSU to attain from the perimeter, which the Cougars have not often wanted to do that winter, they usually got here up quick.
It additionally amounted to the primary time the Cougars actually felt the absence of guard Joseph Yesufu, who stays out with a hip harm. This was his fourth missed recreation. Smith mentioned final week he has no timetable for Yesufu’s return. It hurts WSU as a result of, as evidenced by the loss, it would want some perimeter scoring when its forwards are neutralized. WSU’s Jaylen Wells was held to 1-for-6 capturing on 3-pointers.
“We simply obtained our bubble popped slightly bit,” Smith mentioned. “We bounced again, however credit score to them. They performed a slower tempo. They have been deliberate with the lead. They took care of the ball, which they haven’t been capable of do, and we’re not nice at essentially forcing turnovers.”
WSU returns to motion Thursday, dealing with Boise State on the Enviornment in a neutral-site recreation. That’s the Cougars’ final recreation earlier than getting a break for the vacations.
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