Washington State University Athletics
Thursday, December 19
Pullman, Wash.
7:30 PM
Washington State University
vs
Florida A&M
Photo by: Dean Hare/WSU Photo Services
Cougars Look to Defang the Rattlers Thursday
December 17, 2019 | Men's Basketball
WASHINGTON STATE (6-4)
vs Florida A&M (0-8)Â |Â Thr., Dec. 19 | 7:30 p.m.
 Live Stats | Statbroadcast.com
 Watch | Pac-12 Network (Greg Heister & Dan Dickau)
 Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> The Cougs have won three-straight for the first time since Nov. 2018 and enter the week 6-4 overall with three games left to play in their non-conference schedule. The four-game true home stand began with a 70-56 win over UC Riverside last Sunday.
> WSU is set to close out non-conference play as well as the calendar year at home with three more games beginning with Florida A&M Thursday and Incarnate Word Sunday before taking a break for the holidays.
> CJ Elleby, named to the Julius Erving and Wooden Award watch lists ranks 4th in the Pac-12 in scoring at 20.1 ppg and has scored in double-figures in all 10 games on the year.Â
> Jeff Pollard is in the midst of a career year scoring 9.8 ppg. He has gone for double-figures in five games including twice scoring a career-best 16 pts including last Sunday against UCR.
> The Cougs lead the nation in fewest turnovers at 9.7 per contest and has turned 17.1 forced turnovers into 18.5 points per game.
GAME INFORMATION - VS FLORIDA A&M
The Cougs begin the homestretch of non-conference play with a contest against Florida A&M Thursday night at Beasley. The game is the second of four true home games for the Cougs to close out non-conference play. The Rattlers come to Beasley in the middle of a three-game trip to the Pacific Northwest having fallen to Portland (66-60) Monday and will end at Seattle U Saturday. The Rattlers have played one of the toughest schedules in 2019, playing all eight games on the road going 0-8 so far. They have played a pair of top-25 teams and one Pac-12 team in USC thus far. Florida A&M is ranked #337 in KenPom rankings.
LAST TIME OUT
Washington State 70 - UC Riverside 56 | Dec. 15, 2019 | Pullman, WA
Four the fourth time this season, Washington State forced more than 20 turnovers against their opponent.
The Cougars' defensive effort helped lead them to a 70-56 victory over UC Riverside Sunday afternoon, marking their third victory in a row for the first time this season. CJ Elleby scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had six rebounds and Jeff Pollard added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars. Aljaz Kunc also had 13 points, two rebounds and two assists.
COUGS MAKING HEADWAY DEFENSIVELY
Finding success on the defensive end, the Cougars rank among the nation's top 1/3. Overall, the Cougs have held their opponents to nearly two points under the national average (99.7) in points per 100 possessions at 97.5 (ranking 120th).
WSU ranks #26 with in turning opponents over 23.8% of their possessions while allowing teams to grab just 25.9% of offensive rebounds (ranking 92nd overall).
Behind the arc, the Cougs have allowed teams to shoot 30.3%, three %points lower than the national average ranking 77th overall.
~ Complete Release ~Â (PDF)
FOLLOW THE COUGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALL SEASON LONGÂ
Get all the info, photos, and videos a true Coug Fan could want by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (WSUCougarMBB)
vs Florida A&M (0-8)Â |Â Thr., Dec. 19 | 7:30 p.m.
 Live Stats | Statbroadcast.com
 Watch | Pac-12 Network (Greg Heister & Dan Dickau)
 Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)
OPENING FIVE
> The Cougs have won three-straight for the first time since Nov. 2018 and enter the week 6-4 overall with three games left to play in their non-conference schedule. The four-game true home stand began with a 70-56 win over UC Riverside last Sunday.
> WSU is set to close out non-conference play as well as the calendar year at home with three more games beginning with Florida A&M Thursday and Incarnate Word Sunday before taking a break for the holidays.
> CJ Elleby, named to the Julius Erving and Wooden Award watch lists ranks 4th in the Pac-12 in scoring at 20.1 ppg and has scored in double-figures in all 10 games on the year.Â
> Jeff Pollard is in the midst of a career year scoring 9.8 ppg. He has gone for double-figures in five games including twice scoring a career-best 16 pts including last Sunday against UCR.
> The Cougs lead the nation in fewest turnovers at 9.7 per contest and has turned 17.1 forced turnovers into 18.5 points per game.
GAME INFORMATION - VS FLORIDA A&M
The Cougs begin the homestretch of non-conference play with a contest against Florida A&M Thursday night at Beasley. The game is the second of four true home games for the Cougs to close out non-conference play. The Rattlers come to Beasley in the middle of a three-game trip to the Pacific Northwest having fallen to Portland (66-60) Monday and will end at Seattle U Saturday. The Rattlers have played one of the toughest schedules in 2019, playing all eight games on the road going 0-8 so far. They have played a pair of top-25 teams and one Pac-12 team in USC thus far. Florida A&M is ranked #337 in KenPom rankings.
LAST TIME OUT
Washington State 70 - UC Riverside 56 | Dec. 15, 2019 | Pullman, WA
Four the fourth time this season, Washington State forced more than 20 turnovers against their opponent.
The Cougars' defensive effort helped lead them to a 70-56 victory over UC Riverside Sunday afternoon, marking their third victory in a row for the first time this season. CJ Elleby scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and had six rebounds and Jeff Pollard added 16 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars. Aljaz Kunc also had 13 points, two rebounds and two assists.
COUGS MAKING HEADWAY DEFENSIVELY
Finding success on the defensive end, the Cougars rank among the nation's top 1/3. Overall, the Cougs have held their opponents to nearly two points under the national average (99.7) in points per 100 possessions at 97.5 (ranking 120th).
WSU ranks #26 with in turning opponents over 23.8% of their possessions while allowing teams to grab just 25.9% of offensive rebounds (ranking 92nd overall).
Behind the arc, the Cougs have allowed teams to shoot 30.3%, three %points lower than the national average ranking 77th overall.
~ Complete Release ~Â (PDF)
FOLLOW THE COUGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA ALL SEASON LONGÂ
Get all the info, photos, and videos a true Coug Fan could want by following the team on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (WSUCougarMBB)
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