ROME, Italy – Senior Josh Hawkinson led all scorers with 24 points and freshman Malachi Flynn had 7 assists in his Cougar debut as Washington State men's basketball defeated 2F Sport Management out of Rome, 104-68, Saturday night at Palazetto dello Sport. 

Hawkinson set the pace as four Cougars reached double-figure points including Flynn with 13 points and senior Ike Iroegbu and sophomore Robert Franks with 12 apiece. Iroegbu led the team with 8 rebounds, followed by redshirt senior Conor Clifford with 7, Franks with 6 and Hawkinson, senior Charles Callison and redshirt sophomore newcomer KJ Langston. Langston added 9 points while Iroegbu had 6 assists. Sophomore Viont'e Daniels had 5 points and 4 assists on the night.

2F Sport Management was led by Angelo Luzza with 13 points, followed by three with 10 points apiece. 

As a team, WSU assisted on 29 of its 42 field goals and notched 15 steals as 2f Sport Management committed 29 turnovers. 

The Cougars got off to a little bit of a slow start, as they trailed 5-0 early. Three-straight points by Ike Iroegbu pulled WSU within two at 5-3. At the 15-minute mark, Hawkinson came alive as he rattled off 8-staight points as the Cougars took an 11-5 lead. The Cougars continued to build on their lead in the first half as Hawkinson had 16 of his points in the first half and Iroegbu had 10. WSU had 12 assists and 8 steals in the first half as well. 

Washington State's bench took over in the second half led by Franks with 10 second-half points and 5 second-half rebounds. Flynn had 9 of his points and 5 of his assists in the final two quarters as well. WSU out-shot its opponent 48-26 in the second half. 

WSU leaves Rome Sunday morning and heads to Florence. Its next game is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 9 at Palazzetto dell Sport in Pisa against Selezione Cusground. Continue to follow the Cougars on their 10-day tour of Italy here: http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/2016/8/3/cougars-in-italy.aspx