The Cougars hosted the Pepperdine Waves last night in the seventh annual Cougar Hardwood Classic at KeyArena. The game started slowly with both teams missing a combined 14 shots before Faisal Aden hit a three with 15:02 left in the first half. The game remained close throughout the first half, but the Cougs slowly extended their lead, going on an 18-2 run over a 7:49 span from the 13-minute mark to below the 6-minute mark. Entering the locker room at halftime, WSU held a 26-15 lead with Faisal Aden scoring half of the Cougs points (13) on 4-of-8 from the field and 3-for-4 from the free throw line. Coming out of the locker room the Cougs continued to extend their lead and held a 23-point lead with a little over 11 minutes left to play, but the Waves wouldn't go out without a fight and brought the game within single digits with 21 seconds to play. However, it was too late for Pepperdine and WSU held on to beat the Waves 67-56.
Player(s) of the Game:
Lacy and Aden. Last night's Player of the Game Award was a tale of two halves. Faisal Aden led the charge for the Cougs in the first half, scoring half of their points (13) on 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from the stripe. Pepperdine realized this and put more pressure on Aden, allowing DaVonte' Lacy to shoot in the second half. In the second half Lacy scored 12 points and went 3-of-4 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the line. Both Aden and Lacy combined for 32 of the Cougars 67 points, Aden had the only turnover of the pair, and they shot a combined 7-of-8 from the free throw line and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Play of the Game:
Shelton's steal for a Capers' dunk. The Play of the Game was a great defensive effort by the Cougars that ended with a massive jam by Marcus Capers. The Cougar defense got Pepperdine's Caleb Willis trapped at the top of the arc and forced him to attempt a drive towards the basket through three defenders. WSU's D.J. Shelton found the ball and poked it lose for the steal. Shelton then carried the ball up the court before dishing it to Capers who went "skyblue" as he slammed it home.
Turning Point:
The first bucket. This game remained scoreless for nearly five minutes. The drought lasted through the first media timeout. The Cougars had several shots fall in-and-out, going 0-for-8 from the floor while Pepperdine suffered the same fate missing their first six shots. Faisal Aden scored the first points for the Cougs, knocking down a three. The game remained physical as both teams scrapped for points, but the Cougs were able to outscore the Waves 18-2 over a 7:49 span that was spurred by an Abe Lodwick three. At the end of the long run, WSU held a 14-point lead at 21-7. WSU never looked back, holding on to their lead following the Lodwick three-pointer and won the game 67-56.
Stat of the Game:
Bench points. Bench points proved to be a difference maker in this game that was decided by 11 points. WSU's bench outscored Pepperdine's 25-11, led by the Cougars' Faisal Aden who scored a game high 17 points.
The Cougars remain undefeated in the Cougar Hardwood Classic and are now 8-4 overall. WSU has concluded nonconference play and will begin conference play against Oregon in their first Pac-12 game at 6 p.m. at Spokane Arena at Spokane, Wash., Thursday, Dec. 29.
Waving the flag for Wazzu,
Jim Crawford
Player(s) of the Game:
Lacy and Aden. Last night's Player of the Game Award was a tale of two halves. Faisal Aden led the charge for the Cougs in the first half, scoring half of their points (13) on 4-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from the stripe. Pepperdine realized this and put more pressure on Aden, allowing DaVonte' Lacy to shoot in the second half. In the second half Lacy scored 12 points and went 3-of-4 from the floor and 4-of-4 at the line. Both Aden and Lacy combined for 32 of the Cougars 67 points, Aden had the only turnover of the pair, and they shot a combined 7-of-8 from the free throw line and 5-of-10 from beyond the arc.
Play of the Game:
Shelton's steal for a Capers' dunk. The Play of the Game was a great defensive effort by the Cougars that ended with a massive jam by Marcus Capers. The Cougar defense got Pepperdine's Caleb Willis trapped at the top of the arc and forced him to attempt a drive towards the basket through three defenders. WSU's D.J. Shelton found the ball and poked it lose for the steal. Shelton then carried the ball up the court before dishing it to Capers who went "skyblue" as he slammed it home.
Turning Point:
The first bucket. This game remained scoreless for nearly five minutes. The drought lasted through the first media timeout. The Cougars had several shots fall in-and-out, going 0-for-8 from the floor while Pepperdine suffered the same fate missing their first six shots. Faisal Aden scored the first points for the Cougs, knocking down a three. The game remained physical as both teams scrapped for points, but the Cougs were able to outscore the Waves 18-2 over a 7:49 span that was spurred by an Abe Lodwick three. At the end of the long run, WSU held a 14-point lead at 21-7. WSU never looked back, holding on to their lead following the Lodwick three-pointer and won the game 67-56.
Stat of the Game:
Bench points. Bench points proved to be a difference maker in this game that was decided by 11 points. WSU's bench outscored Pepperdine's 25-11, led by the Cougars' Faisal Aden who scored a game high 17 points.
The Cougars remain undefeated in the Cougar Hardwood Classic and are now 8-4 overall. WSU has concluded nonconference play and will begin conference play against Oregon in their first Pac-12 game at 6 p.m. at Spokane Arena at Spokane, Wash., Thursday, Dec. 29.
Waving the flag for Wazzu,
Jim Crawford
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