COMO, Italy – Seniors
Ike Iroegbu and
Josh Hawkinson each recorded a double-double, led by Iroegbu's game-high 29 points, as Washington State men's basketball defeated BC Silute out of Lithuania, 105-92, Friday in exhibition action as part of the Cougars' foreign tour to Italy.
The Cougars improved to 3-1 on the tour with just one game remaining.
Iroegbu had 29 points, 10 assists and 7 rebounds for Washington State, while shooting 7-for-10 from the field and 14-for-15 from the 3-point line. Hawkinson added 24 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocked shots as he was 11-for-20 from the field. He's recorded a double-double in each of the last three games of the tour. Three other Cougars scored in double figures as redshirt senior
Conor Clifford and junior
Derrien King each had 13 points and freshman
Malachi Flynn added 11. Flynn added 7 assists and 4 steals.
As a team the Cougars shot .619 (39-for-63) from the field and assisted on 28 of those made field goals. WSU shot .920 (23-for-25) from the free throw line, missing just two shots from the charity stripe. BC Silute shot .430 (34-for-79) from the field and .733 (11-for-15) from the free throw line.
Four members of BC Silute scored in double figures led by Darius Kibildis and M. Zaunieriunas with 21 points apiece.
Once again the Cougars fell behind early, but they closed the gap much quicker, answering the first two points of the game with two of their own. The game was back and forth until WSU used a 9-0 run in the middle of the first quarter to take a 19-12 lead. WSU led 28-19 at the end of the first. The Cougars maintained their 9-point lead through the second quarter, as they led at halftime, 54-45.
BC Silute opened the second half with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 54 with just under 8 minutes to go in the third quarter. Washington State quickly countered and distanced itself at the end of the third quarter, taking a 9-point lead, once again, 82-73, heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, BC Silute threatened serval times, but WSU was able to answer as it held on for the 105-92 victory.
The Cougars conclude their tour of Italy with one last game against All-Star Loca Ubriaca Saturday at 8:30 p.m. local time, 11:30 a.m. PT, before heading back to the United States Sunday, Aug. 14.
