Ready to keep it rolling, Cougs to take on USC
WASHINGTON STATE (12-8, 5-8)
vs #20 USC (16-3, 10-2) | Sat., Feb. 13 | 5 p.m.
Live Stats | SideArm Stats
Watch | ESPNU (Dave Feldman & Corey Williams)
Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> The Cougs are coming off a big 81-73 win over #24 UCLA Thursday night, avenging an early season loss to the Bruins to split the season series. In the win the Cougs went 13-22 (59.1%) from deep, the best shooting% since 2016.
> WSU has a chance to take down ranked teams in back-to-back games on a weekend for the first time since 1995 with #20, and top of the standings, USC coming to town Saturday.
> Youth rising, while the freshmen have received the pub the Cougs sophomores have taken over led by Noah Williams, Ryan Rapp, and DJ Rodman. The three jumped in the starting lineup together against UCLA for the first time in their careers.
> Senior Isaac Bonton continues to dominate the Pac-12 scoring 20+ in four of the last five games (26 against UCLA Thursday) while averaging 19.7 ppg in Pac-12 play. Last time against USC, Bonton scored 27 on 10-of-21 shooting.
> Sophomore DJ Rodman has been redhot since returning from injury hitting 10-of-16 from deep in his last three games. On the year he his shooting 44.4% (16-for-36) from behind the arc.
GAME INFORMATION - vs USC
The Cougs take on #20/20 USC which is coming off a huge win over rival UCLA last weekend and a win over Washington Thursday to vault them into first place in the Pac-12 standings. The Trojans dominated the paint against the Bruins behind Pac-12 Player and Freshman of the Week Even Mobley as the projected lottery pick averaged 16.0 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in the two games on the week. Through the first 19 games of his collegiate career Mobley is averaging 16.4 points, 8.9 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game. Mobley's 53 blocks already rank him fourth on USC's all-time freshman blocks list.
LAST TIME OUT - vs UCLA
WSU 81 - UCLA 73 | Feb. 11, 2021 | Pullman, Wash.
The Cougars dominated from start to finish against the Bruins at Beasley to earn their second-straight win over UCLA at home. Senior Isaac Bonton scored a game-high 26 in the victory including drilling four of the Cougs' season-best 13 threes
LAST TIME AGAINST USC
Down double-digits, the Cougs rallied to within four late in the second half but could not complete the comeback on the road at USC. Despite playing against an NBA front court, the Cougs freshman bigs were at their best as Efe Abogidi recorded a double-double (10&12)while Dishon Jackson posted his first double-digit scoring effort with 14 points in the paint. Senior Isaac Bonton notched 27 in the loss, one off of his season high.
SOPHOMORE STANDOUTS
After dealing with injuries and illness for much of the year, the Cougar sophomores have reemerged on the otherside looking to take control of the team. Leading the way is Noah Williams who has started all 20 games and is second on the team averaging 13.0 ppg.
Prior to an ankle injury, DJ Rodman looked like he was taking the sophomore leap before missing 8 games. The sophomore came back and has hit 10 of his last 16 from deep and is fourth in the Pac-12 at 44.4% shooting from three on the year.
Ryan Rapp has dealt with lower leg injuries and Covid-19 protocol, missing six games, before reemerging at the OSU to lead the team in scoring for the first time notching 15 points including hitting a career best 3 for 5 from deep. He would post 5 pts, 8 rbds, and 8 assts in the start against UCLA. He leads the team at +66 on the year and +9.33 per 40 min, double that of the next closest (Efe Abogidi +4.57)
The trio started together for the first time in their careers against UCLA.
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