Boeing Apple Cup Series round one tips off Wednesday
vs Washington (5-5, 0-0) | Wed., Dec. 29 | 8 pm | Beasley Coliseum
Live Stats | StatBroadcast
Watch | ESPNU (Dave Feldman & Adrian Branch)
Listen | WSU Learfield Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> The first half of the Boeing Apple Cup Series kicks off the second half of the season as the Cougs host the Huskies at Beasley Wednesday night. The Cougs have controlled the series in the last two years under head coach Kyle Smith winning three of four, however the Huskies took the last matchup, 65-63, in Pullman on a last second basket.
> Andrej Jakimovski has hit his stride to end non-con play scoring in double-figures in each of the last two games including posting his first career double-double with 11 & 12 against Boise State.
> The Cougs defense continues to be among the elite ranking 41st in defensive rating at 92.4 per 100. WSU has allowed opponents to shoot and effective FG% of just 44.6% (35th in the country).
> WSU closed out non-con play 7-4 (8-5 with the two Pac-12 games in December). In eight wins on the year the Cougs have outscored their opponents by 180 points while in five losses the Cougs have been outscored by just 19 points with three losses coming by just one possession.
> WSU's NET rating sits at 64, dropping from an all-time high of 37 earlier in December.
GAME INFORMATION - vs WASHINGTON - BOEING APPLE CUP SERIES
Pac-12 begins in full for the league as the Cougs begin conference play with rivalry week as WSU hosts Washington in the Boeing Apple Cup Series Dec. 29 on ESPNU. In four games under head coach Kyle Smith the Cougs have won three times against their rivals, however, the Huskies took the last meeting, stunning the Cougs in Pullman on a last second shot in February of last season. The Huskies enter the week coming off a loss to Utah Valley last week finishing non-conference play 5-5. UW missed three games earlier in the month due to Covid-19, postponing their game against Arizona and forfeiting their contest against UCLA while cancelling a contest against Gonzaga.
In four career games against Washington, Noah Williams has posted 14.4 ppg (on 36.6% shooting), 6.3 rpg, 1.8 spg. The junior from the Westside has done the bulk of his damage getting to the line where he is an impressive 25-for-30 (83.3%) in four games including going 7-for-8 from the line in both games last season.
NEXT UP
The Cougs leave the Palouse for just the second time on the year as they hit the road to the Mountain Schools to take on Colorado and Utah next week. First up for the Cougs is a trip to Boulder to take on the Buffaloes Jan. 7. The Buffs begin conference play on the road against the Oregon Schools picking back up their season after having to cancel their game against Kansas due to Covid-19 protocols before the holiday break. On the year the Buffs are 9-3 entering the new year including 1-1 in Pac-12 play with a win over Stanford and a loss to UCLA.
LAST TIME OUT - vs BOISE STATE
BSU 58 - WSU 52 | DEC. 22, 2021 | SPOKANE, WASH
Abu Kigab scored 19 points and Boise State held on in the final two minutes to beat Washington State 58-52 on Wednesday night for its sixth straight win. The game was tied at 42 before Tyson Degenhart made two free throws and a 3-pointer to help give Boise State a 49-45 lead with 2:03 remaining. Washington State pulled to 49-47 but the Broncos shot 9 of 10 from the line to end it.
Tyrell Roberts scored 16 points to lead Washington State (8-5). Andrej Jakimovski had 11 points and matched a career best with 12 rebounds. Noah Williams also had 11 points. The Cougars shot 26% (9 of 35) in the second half and 60% (9 of 15) overall from the free-throw line.
JAKIMOVSKI THE MACEDONIAN SNIPER
Finding his groove after off season surgery, sophomore Andrej Jakimovski has proven to be one of the Cougs' top snipers as the second-year forward is 13-of-28 (46.4%). 56% of his shots have come from behind the arc.
The sophomore has come up with double-digit scoring in back-to-back game heading into Pac-12 play while his all-around game has picked up after posting his first career double-double against Boise State (11p/12r).
For his career, Jakimovski is 46-of-131 (35.1%) from deep.
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