Final Non-Conference Contest Pits Cougs versus the Demons
WASHINGTON STATE (7-0)
vs Northwestern State (1-8) | Wed., Dec. 23 | 2 p.m.
Live Stats | Sidearm Stats
Watch | Pac-12 Network (Greg Heister & Eldridge Recasner)
Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> At 7-0 the Cougs are off to their best start since 2007-08 (went 14-0 to begin the year including winning their first two Pac-12 contests). It is just the fifth time in the modern era (1986, 3 pt line) and seventh time since 1965-66 a Coug team has started 7-0.
WSU is one of just 29 teams still undefeated in college basketball.
> The Cougs look to go perfect in non-conference play Wednesday when they take on Northwestern St. for the first time in program history. The Demons will be playing their third game in three days having played twice at Gonzaga to start the week.
> Efe Abogidi became the first Coug to record 14+ rebounds in back-to-back games since Mark Hendrickson in 1994-95, while grabbing back-to-back double-doubles.
> Sophomore Noah Williams (14.6 ppg) and senior Isaac Bonton (16.5 ppg) lead the team in scoring and have each gone for double-digits in six games this year.
> WSU enters the game one of the top defensive units in the country ranking #19 in scoring defense allowing just 58.4 points per game and #4 in effective FG% at just 39.9% allowed.
GAME INFORMATION - VS NORTHWESTERN STATE
The Cougs have a chance to finish non-conference play a perfect 7-0 when they take on Northwestern St. Wednesday for the first time in program history. The Demons, who have been on the road since Dec. 18, will be playing their third game in three days having lost Monday at Gonzaga with a second contest Tuesday night. On the year, NWSt. is just 1-8 with their lone win coming against Champion Christian College, 77-44, before beginning their four-game road trip. The Demons have given up 90+ points each of the last two games (Tuesday's game at Gonzaga still to be played). Jarius Roberson (10.9) and Trenton Massner (10.6) are the lone Demons to average double-figures.
LAST TIME OUT - VS PRAIRIE VIEW A&M
WSU 90 - PVAMU 62 | Dec. 21, 2020 | Pullman, WA
Efe Abogidi scored 16 points with 14 rebounds and a career-best four blocked shots as Washington State remained unbeaten, dispatching Prairie View A&M 90-62 Monday night. Abogidi became the first Cougar with back-to-back double-doubles since CJ Elleby in February. He was 5-for-7 shooting and made 5 of 6 free throws.
JAKIMOVSKI THE MACEDONIAN SNIPER
Finding his groove in both college basketball and the United State, freshman Andrej Jakimovski has proven to be the Cougs' top sniper as the first-year forward leads the team from deep at 13-of-33 (39.4%). He has hit multiple three-pointers in 5-of-7 games including three in three games.
His 1.9 per game average ranks 8th in the Pac-12 and 1st among freshman (all 7 better are fourth or fifth year players). His 13 makes ranks 5th in the Pac-12.
While it's still early in the season, Jakimovski has a chance to put himself among the elite freshmen in WSU history with the top-10 beginning at 31 3-pt makes (Eddie Hill, 1991 & Isaac Fontaine, 1994). The freshman record is held by Klay Thompson (2009) with 68.
OFFENSE DOMINANT VERSUS MSU, PVAMU
The Cougs are coming off their best offensive efforts of the year having posted back-to-back 28 point wins over Montana State and Prairie View A&M. It marks back-to-back 20+ point wins for the first time since 2011 (38 (93-55) vs. Santa Clara at Pullman, 12/11/11 & 24 (66-42) vs. Western Oregon at Pullman, 12/18/11).
The 90 pts vs the Panthers was the first 90-pt performance for WSU since scoring 91 at Arizona State, 2/7/19.
WSU's scored 80+ points six times in 2019-20. WSU shot a season-best 49.1% (28-57) against the Bobcats and 48.4% (30-62) against the Panthers. In 2019-20 the Cougs shot over 45% seven times.
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