WASHINGTON STATE (9-3, 2-3)
at USC (10-2, 4-1) | Sat., Jan. 16 | 6:30 p.m.
  Live Stats | SidearmStats
  Watch | Pac-12 Network (Roxy Bernstein & Don MacLean)
  Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)

OPENING FIVE
> Cougs finish out their two-week trip to California with a final game in LA at USC. WSU is looking to get back on track after dropping two-straight and are looking to snap an eight-game skid against USC and win in LA for the first time since 2015.
> Saturday's game features two of the top FG% defensive teams in the country with USC at #1 (36.1%) and the Cougs at #9 (37.0%)
> Senior Isaac Bonton has been hot for the Cougs in the 2021 averaging 22.0 ppg on 53.1% (34-64) shooting including hitting 458% (11-24) from deep while also averaging 4.8 assists per game.
> Freshmen have powered the Cougs as Efe Abogidi (12), Andrej Jakimovski (10), and Dishon Jackson (3) have moved into the starting lineup. Their combined 26 starts is the fourth most in Division I.
> Freshman Andrej Jakimovski has established himself as the Cougs' top sniper hitting 42.9% (9-of-21) from behind the arc in the last four games while averaging 10 ppg. He has shown a proclivity to follow up a tough shooting game with a monster shooting game following 0fer games with career-highs from behind the arc over the last month of play.

GAME INFORMATION - AT USC
The Cougs complete their two-week trip to California at USC Saturday. The Trojans are led by three-time Freshman of the Week Evan Mobley at 16.3 ppg and 8.8 rpg. Last season the Trojans took both games in the season series and have won the last eight in the all-time series. WSU is looking to win at USC for the first time since 2015, the last time the Cougs won in the series. WSU has won 7 of the previous 10 in the series before the current eight game slide against the Trojans. USC is second in the Pac-12 and is coming off a 95-68 win over Washington Thursday. The Trojans lead the nation in FG% defense at 36.1%.

LAST TIME OUT - AT UCLA
UCLA 91 - WSU 61 | Jan. 14, 2021 | Los Angeles
UCLA used a 54 point first half (the most scored under Mick Cronin) to put the Cougs in a hole they could not climb out of. Despite a solid shooting day and 23 points from Isaac Bonton, WSU could not slow down the Bruins top ranked offense as UCLA shot 54% in the contest, a season-high against WSU.

NEW YEAR SAME BONTON
The Cougs top scorer, Isaac Bonton continues to fill it up on the scoreboard as the senior has run his streak team-best double-digit scoring streak to 29-straight games dating back to Dec. 21, 2019 against Incarnate Word. He has 36 career double-digit scoring games.
In 2021, Bonton has found a new level averaging 22.0 ppg on 53.1% (34-64) shooting including hitting 458% (11-24) from deep while also averaging 4.8 assists per game.
On the year, Bonton is averaging 18.2 ppg, 3rd among all Pac-12 scorers. He is also third on the team in rebounding at 4.9 rpg. 
He has four times gone for 20+ points (three in the last four games) including a season-high 28 in the opener. He has 9 career 20+ point scoring effort. 
On the year the senior is third in the conference in getting to the line with 67 attempts (45th in the country) and makes at 45. 
In addition to his offensive spark, Bonton has been the Cougs' best perimeter defender having posted a team-best 21 steals on the year including 10 in the last four games. 

FRESHMEN FRONT COURT 
Entering the year one of the youngest teams in the conference the Cougs youth has been served as the freshmen have taken over on the Palouse. Against Arizona, freshmen Efe Abogidi, Andrej Jakimovski, and Dishon Jackson (1st career start) became the first trio of true freshmen to start a game for WSU for the first time since March 9, 2006 vs Oregon at the Pac-10 Tournament (Aaron Baynes, Caleb Forrest, Chris Matthews). The trio finished the game with a combined 34 points on 22 FG attempts, 22 rebounds, 3 blocks and only 3 turnovers.
In four games the trio is shooting 33-of-72 (45.8%) for 25 ppg while grabbing 56 combined rebounds and 10 blocks.
On the year, the trio has started 26 combined games the fourth most in Division I. Abogidi leads the way having started all 12 games.

~ Complete Release ~ (PDF)

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