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Nov. 18, 2002

Box Score

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Five Cougars scored in double figures led by 16 points from Justin Lyman (Missouri City, Texas) as Washington State defeated Lewis-Clark State 90-77 Monday night in men's exhibition basketball.

Lyman connected on 6 of 10 shooting, including 4 of 8 from three-point range.

"Marcus (WSU point guard Moore) was getting me the ball in the right places," Lyman said. "I was running the floor like coach tells us to and I was getting wide open. I have to make those shots."

Justin Bellegarde (Ukiah, Calif.) added 15 points off the bench. He also grabbed six rebounds to tie Moore and Shami Gill (Mission, British Columbia) for team high honors.

"My first game I was nervous," Bellegarde said. "Tonight I got into the flow of the game."

WSU Head Coach Paul Graham added, "Justin got more comfortable and got going good. Last game it was E-Z (Ezenwa Ukeagu) that played well off the bench. Tonight it was Bellegarde."

Lewis-Clark State used a 16-2 run to close the gap to 67-60 with just over seven minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets before the Cougars scored six straight points to extend the lead to 75-62. Nick Graham (Stillwater, Okla.) capped the run with back-to-back buckets.

The Warriors responded with the next six points, including five by Ricky Frazier to close within 75-68 at the 4:26 mark.

The Lewis-Clark State comeback was halted when Bellegarde stole the ball and converted a three-point play with 4:04 left to put the Cougars ahead 78-68. The Warriors never got closer than nine points the rest of the way.

"We have to quit playing in spurts," Graham said. "We had defensive breakdowns in both exhibition games and let the opponent back in it."

The Cougars open the regular season Saturday in Pullman at 11 a.m., against San Jose State.