Ernie Kent to Throw Mariner’s First Pitch

SEATTLE – First-year Washington State University men’s basketball coach, Ernie Kent, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch as the Seattle Mariners host the Texas Rangers, Wednesday, Aug. 27 at 12:40 p.m. at Safeco Field. The game takes place one day before the WSU football team takes on Rutgers next door at CenturyLink Field, Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m.

Kent became WSU’s 18th men’s basketball coach, March 31, bringing with him a 325-254 (.561) mark in 19 years as a head collegiate coach. He spent 13 years as the head coach at his alma mater, Oregon after six years at Saint Mary’s (Calif.). This year’s Cougar team features three returning starters, nine returning letterwinners and six newcomers.

The Cougar basketball team will face Azusa Pacific in exhibition action before opening the 2014-15 season in Texas as it faces UTEP, Friday, Nov. 14 and TCU, Monday, Nov. 17, at El Paso and Fort Worth, respectively.