vs Texas State (0-0, 0-0) | Mon, Nov. 7 | 4:30 pm | Beasley Coliseum
  Live Stats | StatBroadcast
  Watch | Pac-12 Network (Greg Heister & Dan Dickau)
  Listen | WSU Learfield Radio Network (Matt Chazanow & Craig Ehlo)

OPENING FIVE
1. The Cougars ended last season 22-15 overall, marking the second-straight winning season for Coach Smith and WSU while finishing .500 or better in three-consecutive years. The 22 wins was the most for the Cougs since the 2010-11 season. In addition the Cougs finished tied for 5th in the Pac-12 at 11-9, the best finish for the Cougs since the 2007-08 season.
2. WSU advanced to the postseason for the first time since the 2010-11 season earning a berth in the NIT where the Cougs would play their way to the semifinals and Madison Square Garden. It was the second-straight NIT the Cougs played to the semifinals matching the program's best run from the 2011 NIT.
3. The Cougs welcome 10 newcomers to the 2022-23 squad, including seven freshman, two incoming junior transfers, and one returning redshirt senior. Freshman Adrame Diongue arrived in Pullman as No. 43 in ESPN's Top-100 and a 4-star recruit, the second highest recruit in program history as rated by 247Sports and the highest rated among the ESPN100 for the Cougs.
4. Sophomore Mouhamed Gueye returns after earning Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors. Gueye picked up five Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors and posted a team-best three double-doubles on the year including his first Pac-12 double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against Stanford Jan. 13.
5. Incoming transfers Jabe Mullins from Saint Mary's and Justin Powell from Tennessee are expected to be starters or heavy contributors to the Cougar lineup. Mullins saw action in 53 games at SMC, including playing in all 34 contests in 2021-22 off the bench a veteran laden Gaels squad. Powell saw action in 30 games for the Volunteers including playing in his first postseason contest against Longwood in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

ABOUT THE 2022-23 COUGARS
Washington State men's basketball tips off the 2022-23 season, Monday, Nov. 7,, hosting Texas State at Beasley Coliseum. Tip off is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. with coverage on the Pac-12 Network. WSU returns five letterwinners from last season's team, including two starters in TJ Bamba and Mouhamed Gueye. The Cougars welcome 10 new faces to the roster, including seven freshmen, two junior transfers, and a returning senior redshirt in Ben Olesen. After losing three starters including All-Pac-12 First Teamer and leading scorer Michael Flowers, the Cougs will look to preseason All-Pac-12 honoree Mouhamed Gueye to lead the way in the paint in 2022-23.

NEW FACES READY TO MAKE AN IMPACT
The Cougs' seven freshmen and two transfers are ready to contribute early. Three of the freshmen bring international experience to the Cougs, including Mael Hamon-Crespin and Kymany Houinsou from France and Adrame Diongue from Senegal. Incoming transfers Jabe Mullins from Saint Mary's and Justin Powell from Tennessee are expected to be starters or heavy contributors to the Cougar lineup. Mullins saw action in 53 games at SMC, including playing in all 34 contests in 2021-22 off the bench a veteran laden Gaels squad. Powell saw action in 30 games for the Volunteers including playing in his first postseason contest against Longwood in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.

WASHINGTON STATE IN SEASON OPENERS
The Cougs are 99-22 all-time in season openers and 60-8 when opening the season at home. WSU has won every season opener when opening at Beasley Coliseum and its last 26 season openers at home. WSU has won 32-consecutive Beasley Coliseum openers (not necessarily the first game of the season, but the first at home), with their last loss coming to BYU, Dec. 3, 1987. Last season the Cougs defeated Alcorn State 85-67 to begin the year at Beasley. Three Cougs scored in double figures, including then-sophomore TJ Bamba with 11 points.

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS
Washington State and Texas State have only met once previously, a 78-73 overtime victory for the Cougars back in 2015. Last season's Texas State team finished 21-8 and regular season champions in the Sun Belt. The Bobcats also participated in the 2022 National Invitation Tournament, falling in the opening round at North Texas, 67-63 in overtime. Texas State returns about half of its scoring and rebounding from last season, led by senior guard Mason Harrell and junior forward Nate Martin.

GUEYE RETURNS WITH PRESEASON HONORS
In October, sophomore Mouhamed Gueye was named to the Pac-12 Preseason All-Conference First Team. A member of the 2021-22 Pac-12 All-Freshman Team, Gueye established himself as an elite rebounding presence during his freshman season, earning five Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. The 6-11 forward posted a team-best three double-doubles last year, including his first Pac-12 double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds against Stanford, Jan. 13. Over the season, Gueye averaged 7.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He also tallied 33 blocks, 4th all-time by a WSU freshman, and pulled in 181 rebounds, 5th all-time by a Coug freshman.

The Kyle Smith Effect - FAST FACTS ABOUT LAST YEAR'S COUGS
- First 20-win season since 2011 (8th 20-win season since the Pac formed in 1968-69)
- 22 wins ties for the most since 2010-11
- Program record 37 games played
- Back-to-back winning seasons for the first time since 2010-11 and 2011-12
- First winning season in Pac-12 play (11-9) since 2007-08 (13th time since the Pac formed)
- First top-5 finish in Pac-12 play since 2007-08
- First postseason road victory since 1995 (defeated SMU in Dallas in the NIT 2nd Round)
- NIT Semifinalist for the second time
- First win in Salt Lake City over Utah, 77-61 (Jan. 8, 2022) since 1946
- First sweep of the season series against the Utes all-time
- First Cougar team to beat Utah and Colorado in a home weekend sweep (Jan. 2022)
- First sweep the Bay Area Schools on the road (Feb. 2022) since the 1993 season
- First Pac-12 team since 2014-15 to hold multiple conference opponents under 45 points in the same season

WSU LOOKING TO BUILD OFF NIT RUN
The Cougs finished their postseason run in the NIT Semifinals for the second time in six tournament appearances and for the first time since 2011. All time at the NIT the Cougs are 10-6 including going 6-2 in their last two tournaments in 2022 and 2011 (both trips to the semifinals). The Cougs opened the 2022 tournament with an impressive 63-50 win over Santa Clara at home at Beasley Coliseum. In round two the Cougs took down 1-seed SMU, 75-63, in Dallas, handing the Mustangs their first loss at home in 2021-22. In Provo, the Cougs blasted BYU, 77-58, to earn their trip to NYC. The run would end at the Garden with a 72-56 loss to Texas A&M.

JACKSON & RICE OUT INDEFINITELY
The Cougars will be without junior Dishon Jackson or redshirt freshman Myles Rice. Both are out indefinitely due to medical issues. Rice was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

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