Cougars, Vandals Renew Border Rivalry
Men's basketball team to tip-off with Idaho Dec. 20.
December 16, 1998
PULLMAN, Wash. - The Washington State Cougars and Idaho Vandals renew
their border rivalry for the 253rd time Sunday evening at 5:07 p.m. in
Moscow's Kibbie Dome.
| Tentative Cougar Starters |
| No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Cl. |
1998-99 Statistics |
| 13 |
Kojo Mensah-Bonsu |
F |
6-5 1/4 |
217 |
SR |
12.9 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg |
| 44 |
Eddie Miller |
F |
6-6 |
216 |
SO |
11.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg |
| 3 |
Blake Pengelly |
PG |
5-10 |
163 |
JR |
5.5 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 4.5 apg |
| 4 |
Jan-Michael Thomas |
G |
5-10 1/2 |
169 |
JR |
14.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg |
| 5 |
Mike Bush |
G |
6-5 |
186 |
FR |
6.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg |
| Reserves |
| 34 |
Chris Crosby |
F |
6-7 |
215 |
JR |
15.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg |
| 12 |
Kab Kazadi |
G |
6-0 |
184 |
SR |
4.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg |
| 42 |
Will Hutchens |
G |
6-3 1/2 |
201 |
SR |
1.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg |
| 40 |
Brian Stewart |
C |
6-10 1/4 |
223 |
SO |
0.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg |
| 10 |
Cedric Clark |
G |
5-11 1/2 |
175 |
SO |
DNP |
| 54 |
Leif Nelson |
C |
6-10 1/2 |
272 |
SR |
2.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg - INJ |
| 41 |
Steve Slotemaker |
F |
6-9 |
221 |
SR |
5.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg - INJ |
THOMAS NAMED PAC-10 POTW - Junior guard Jan-Michael Thomas has been named
the Pac-10 Player of the Week for his performance in the Cougars' 70-69 win
against Brigham Young Tuesday night in Pullman.
Thomas scored 17 of his team-high 22 points in the second half in WSU's
only game of the week. He converted three of his final four free throw
attempts, including the game-winner with nine seconds remaining. On the
night, Thomas shot six-of-10 from the field, five-of-eight from three-point
range and five-of-six at the free throw line. It was the first time this
season WSU won after trailing at the half (34-31) and marked the Cougars'
third straight victory. After opening the season 1-4, WSU is now back to
.500 at 4-4.
Thomas, a native of Inglewood, Calif., is currently leading the Pac-10 in
three-point field goal percentage, having connected on 27 of 54 attempts
(.500). As a team, the Cougars lead the conference in both team three-point
percentage (.419) and three-pointers made per game (7.75). Nationally, WSU
is tied for 19th in team three-point field goal percentage. It is the first
career award for Thomas and the first Pac-10 player of the week award for
WSU since Mark Hendrickson was honored on January 23, 1995. It is the
Cougars' 13th all-time player of the week award.
In the last two games, Thomas has been WSU's spark, scoring 18 points at
Eastern Washington and 22 versus BYU. Also in those two games, he has hit
64 percent from three-point land (9-14) and 92 percent from the charity
stripe (11-12). At his current pace of nearly four three-point baskets per
game, Thomas would record 98 during WSU's 29-game regular season, which
would easily shatter the Cougar single-season record of 83 set by Eddie
Hill in 1994.
Game Facts
Sunday, December 20, 1998
5:07 p.m. PST
ASUI Kibbie Dome (10,000)
Radio: The Crimson & Gray Sports Network will broadcast all WSU games on
its 16-station network with Bud Nameck (6th season) calling the
play-by-play. Broadcasts are also available via the Internet,
www.broadcast.com
Records: WSU is 4-4 and on a three-game winning streak after edging Brigham
Young 70-69 last Tuesday in Pullman. Idaho shows a 4-3 record after
finishing second at the Montana Invitational last weekend. The Vandals beat
Youngstown State 68-67 in the opener, but fell to Montana 67-60 in the
championship game.
Series History: WSU leads 146-106. The series is WSU's oldest with another
Division I program, dating back to January 13, 1906, when WSU beat Idaho
28-11 in Pullman. It is also both schools' longest uninterrupted rivalry.
This will be the 93rd consecutive year the teams face each other. With 252
prior meetings, the Cougars have faced Idaho more times than any other
school save one -- Oregon State (256 meetings). Though WSU has won four of
the last five meetings, The series is a draw over the last 18 games. The
Cougars have won just two of their last nine visits to Moscow, losing most
recently 73-66 in 1996-97. WSU's last win in the Kibbie Dome was a 68-59
decision in the 1995-96 season.
On Deck: WSU travels to El-Paso, Texas to compete in the Sun Bowl Classic.
The Cougs will face host UTEP on Monday, December 28 at 6:00 p.m. PST (7:00
p.m. Central). In Tuesday's final round, WSU will meet either Detroit or
Grambling State.
| 1998-99 Schedule/Results |
| 4-4/0-0 |
|
| Date |
Opponent |
Time |
Score |
| 11/16 |
CENTRAL WASHINGTON |
W |
91-78 |
| 11/19 |
at Alaska-Fairbanks+ |
L |
75-88 |
| 11/21 |
vs. Nebraska+ |
L |
84-95 |
| 11/22 |
vs. Virginia+ |
L |
53-62 |
| 11/28 |
vs. Gonzaga* |
L |
61-70 |
| 12/2 |
PORTLAND STATE |
W |
74-71 |
| 12/5 |
at Eastern Washington |
W |
91-72 |
| 12/8 |
BRIGHAM YOUNG@ |
W |
70-69 |
| 12/20 |
at Idaho |
5:07 p.m. |
| 12/28 |
at Texas-El Paso |
6:00 p.m. |
| 12/29 |
Detroit or Grambling State |
TBA |
| 1/3 |
vs. WASHINGTON (FSN)#* |
2:00 p.m. |
| 1/7 |
at Arizona# |
5:37 p.m. |
| 1/9 |
at Arizona State# |
5:00 p.m. |
| 1/14 |
OREGON# |
7:05 p.m. |
| 1/16 |
OREGON STATE (FSN)# |
3:05 p.m. |
| 1/21 |
at Stanford# |
7:30 p.m. |
| 1/23 |
at California (FSB)# |
1:00 p.m. |
| 1/28 |
UCLA# |
7:05 p.m. |
| 1/30 |
USC (FSNW)# |
5:00 p.m. |
| 2/4 |
ARIZONA STATE# |
7:05 p.m. |
| 2/6 |
ARIZONA (FSN)# |
3:00 p.m. |
| 2/11 |
at Oregon# |
7:05 p.m. |
| 2/13 |
at Oregon State# |
5:07 p.m. |
| 2/18 |
CALIFORNIA# |
7:05 p.m. |
| 2/20 |
STANFORD (FSNW)# |
7:00 p.m. |
| 2/25 |
at UCLA# |
7:30 p.m. |
| 2/27 |
at USC# |
5:00 p.m. |
| 3/6 |
at Washington# |
3:00 p.m. |
| All times Pacific |
| # Pacific-10 Conference game |
| + Top of the World Classic, Fairbanks, Alaska |
| * Spokane Arena, Spokane, Wash. |
| Sun Bowl Classic, El Paso, Texas |
| @ Doubleheader with WSU women |
EASTMAN NEARS 200 VICTORIES: Kevin Eastman is in his fifth season as head
coach at WSU. He has a 63-63 (.500) five-year record. Among Cougar coaches
with at least a four-year tenure, Eastman's winning percentage is tied for
fourth with Kelvin Sampson at .500 (103-103/1988-94). The New Brunswick,
N.J., native's winning percentage also trails three WSU coaching legends,
Jack Friel's .568 (495-377/1929-58), Fred Bohler's .561 (226-177/1909-26)
and George Raveling's .551 (167-136/1973-83).
Overall in 11 years as a head coach, Eastman holds a 187-138 (.575)
record. Included in that are a 65-22 mark at Belmont Abbey and a 59-53 mark
at UNC-Wilmington.
Eastman is 4-2 all-time versus Idaho.
ANOTHER LEFT ANKLE INJURY: Just when it looked safe to take the court,
another WSU big man suffered a sprained left ankle. This time it was senior
center Leif Nelson who suffered the injury on Sunday during an appearance
in the Pullman community. Nelson is questionable for Sunday's game at
Idaho. If he misses the Idaho contest, Nelson will be the fourth different
WSU player to miss a game due to a left ankle injury.
Meanwhile, senior forward Steve Slotemaker is doubtful for the Idaho game.
He suffered the team's third left ankle sprain during the first half of the
December 2 win against Portland State when he fell on a Viking player
following a three-point shot attempt. A more likely return date for
Slotemaker is the December 28-29 Sun Bowl Classic in El Paso.
If Slotemaker and Nelson are not able to play, it will be the second time
in three games that WSU will field a lineup that features just one player
taller than 6-7 (6-10 center Brian Stewart).
Washington State got one of its sprained ankle-sidelined big men back when
sophomore center Brian Stewart made a brief appearance during last week's
BYU game. Stewart was the second big man to return from injury; sophomore
forward Eddie Miller returned to action during the Eastern Washington game.
Miller, who suffered a sprained left ankle during the last 15 minutes of
practice on November 27 (the day before the Gonzaga game), came back after
missing the Gonzaga and Portland State games.
Add senior guard Kab Kazadi's deep thigh bruise which kept him off the
court through WSU's first four games and Cougar players have already sat
out a combined 10 games to injury.
THREE FOR CROSBY: Junior forward Chris Crosby has been a reason why WSU
has been able to put together a three-game winning streak. While the
usually big scorer has led the team in points just once during the streak,
he has been the only Coug in double figures during all three; he had 17
versus Portland State, 20 at Eastern Washington and 12 against BYU.
In the last three, Crosby is averaging 16.3 points and 4.7 rebounds per
game, while committing just 1.7 turnovers. He also tied a career-high with
five threes at EWU.
KOJO'S MOJO: Senior forward Kojo Mensah-Bonsu has also been a spark in
WSU's first three-game winning streak of the season. He tallied his second
career double-double (17 pts., 10 reb.) in the 74-71 win against Portland
State and then scored a career-high 22 points in the Eastern Washington
win. During the BYU game, Kojo was held to just eight points, but posted a
solid all-around game with six rebounds, two steals, two assists and a block.
Kojo's performance included a career-high four blocks versus the Vikings
and nine boards in the EWU game -- leaving him one shy of back-to-back
double-doubles.
SWITCHING STARTERS: Mainly due to injury, WSU has used five different
starting lineups in eight games this season. Only senior forward Kojo
Mensah-Bonsu and junior guard Blake Pengelly have started all eight games.
Eight of WSU's 13 players have made at least one start this year. Here's a
look:
G 1-3 Mensah-Bonsu, Crosby, Nelson, Pengelly, Bush
G 4 Mensah-Bonsu, Crosby, Miller, Pengelly, Thomas
G 5 Mensah-Bonsu, Crosby, Nelson, Pengelly, Thomas
G 6 Mensah-Bonsu, Slotemaker, Pengelly, Thomas, Bush
G 7-8 Mensah-Bonsu, Crosby, Pengelly, Thomas, Bush
|
1998-99 |
Career |
| Player |
Starts |
Starts |
| Mensah-Bonsu |
8 |
11 |
| Pengelly |
8 |
40 |
| Crosby |
7 |
28 |
| Bush |
6 |
6 |
| Thomas |
5 |
5 |
| Nelson |
4 |
28 |
| Slotemaker |
1 |
14 |
| Miller |
1 |
1 |
| Kazadi |
0 |
18 |
SCOUTING IDAHO: The Cougars are very familiar with their border rivals,
even if the personnel has changed some. The Vandals, favored by most
publications to win the Big West, are 4-3 on the season and undefeated
(2-0) at the Kibbie Dome. Junior transfer Gordon Scott leads Idaho at 16.3
points per game. Senior guard Avery Curry is another of Idaho's threats at
12.6 points and 4.6 assists per game.
What the Vandals lack in size they make up for in quickness. Idaho is
being outrebounded by six boards a game (37.6-31.6), but posts an
impressive 11.1 steals per game; opponents are at 7.0 spg. Idaho also
forces 21.1 opponent turnovers per game.
| Tentative Vandal Starters |
| No. |
Name |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Cl. |
1998-99 Statistics |
| 21 |
Mike Jackson |
F |
6-6 |
JR |
7.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg |
| 23 |
Gordon Scott |
F |
6-5 |
JR |
16.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.1 spg |
| 40 |
Kevin Byrne |
C |
6-9 |
SR |
4.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg |
| 12 |
Avery Curry |
G |
6-2 |
SR |
12.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 4.6 apg |
| 33 |
Cameron Banks |
G |
6-4 |
SR |
10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg |
LAST GAME: 12 days prior to the Idaho game, WSU edged Brigham Young 70-69
December 8 in Pullman. It was WSU's 41st straight home non-conference
victory. Junior guard Jan-Michael Thomas scored 22 points, including five
three-pointers, and nailed the game-winning free throw with nine seconds
remaining in the game. Sophomore forward Eddie Miller scored a career-high
18 points, while junior forward Chris Crosby added 12. WSU overcame its
worst shooting night of the season by forcing 19 BYU turnovers.
HOME NON-LEAGUE STREAK AT 41: By defeating Brigham Young 70-69 last week,
WSU posted its ninth straight perfect home non-conference season. The BYU
win was WSU's 41st consecutive non-conference victory in Pullman. The
Cougars have not lost at home to a non-conference foe since December 14,
1989, when Idaho escaped Friel Court with a 56-52 win.
The streak began with a 112-81 win over BYU-Hawaii in the first game of
the 1990-91 season. WSU's 41 wins include 36 at Friel and five at Bohler
Gym (all during the 1990-91 season). The streak also includes NIT victories
in 1992 (Minnesota), 1995 (Texas Tech) and 1996 (Gonzaga).
WSU WINS 200th AT FRIEL COURT: Washington State's 74-71 victory December
2 against Portland State was the Cougars' 200th all-time win at Friel
Court. Beginning with an 80-78 WSU victory against Louisiana State on
December 1, 1973, the Cougars have won nearly two-thirds of the games they
have played there (.653). WSU has a 201-107 all-time record at Beasley.
Milestone wins at Friel:
No. 1 WSU 80, LSU 78, 12/1/73
No. 3 WSU 71, USC 56, 1/5/74
(first league win)
No. 25 WSU 77, Cal 63, 1/8/77
No. 50 WSU 77, USC 57, 1/24/80
No. 100 WSU 75, Oregon 71, 2/14/86
No. 150 WSU 95, Oregon 79, 1/21/93
No. 200 WSU 74, Portland State 71, 12/2/98
CROSBY EARNS ALL-TOURNEY NOD: Junior for his play at the Top of the World
Classic, November 19-22, in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was the first career
all-tournament selection for the Littleton, Colo., native. Crosby was among
the tournament's top scorers and rebounders, averaging 17.8 points and 7.3
rebounds per contest for the three-game event. Included in that were
career-highs in points (25), rebounds (13) and free throws (12) versus
Alaska-Fairbanks.
MANAGER COHN HONORED: Perhaps the surprise of the Top of the World Classic
came during the awards ceremony when WSU student manager Jeff Cohn was
honored with the Order of Nanook Award. The Fairbanks Princess Hotel
presents the award to the top manager, "for meritorious demonstration of
courtesy, cooperation and competence." Cohn, a senior from Foster City,
Calif., majoring in communications, was honored with two different plaques
and a giant collectable polar bear (stuffed, of course).
ABOUT THE SCHEDULE: Washington State is again playing a challenging
schedule. The Cougars have eight games against teams ranked in the
preseason polls (Stanford, UCLA, Washington and Arizona - twice) and 14
games versus teams that played in the 1998 postseason (NCAA: Stanford,
UCLA, Washington and Arizona - twice; Detroit and Nebraska - once; NIT:
Arizona State - twice - and Gonzaga; NAIA: Central Washington).
THE PENGELLY IS MIGHTIER THAN: Junior guard Blake Pengelly is climbing
WSU career lists in assists and three-point shooting. He currently ranks
ninth in assists with 238 (17 behind No. 8 Anthony Kidd), second in
three-point field goal percentage at .430 (behind No. 1 Isaac Fontaine,
.457), eighth in three pointers made with 99 (12 behind No. 7 Brian Wright)
and 10th in three-pointers attempted with 230.
Junior Chris Crosby passed David Sanders for ninth in three-pointers made
during the Eastern Washington game and now trails Pengelly by one. Here's a
look at where Pengelly and Crosby rank:
| Assists |
| 1. |
Bennie Seltzer (1990-93) |
473 |
| 2. |
Keith Morrison (1983-86) |
456 |
| 3. |
Donminic Ellison (1994-96) |
441 |
| 4. |
Marty Giovacchini (1974-77) |
371 |
| 5. |
Dan Steward (1970-72) |
277 |
| 6. |
Isaac Fontaine (1994-97) |
269 |
| 7. |
Brad Johnson (1972-74) |
263 |
| 8. |
Anthony Kidd (1986-89) |
255 |
| 9. |
Blake Pengelly (1997- ) |
238 |
|
| Three-Point Field Goals |
| 1. |
Eddie Hill (1991-94) |
233 |
| 2. |
Bennie Seltzer (1990-93) |
230 |
| 3. |
Isaac Fontaine (1994-97) |
208 |
| 4. |
Terrance Lewis (1991-92) |
137 |
| 5. |
Donminic Ellison (1994-96) |
128 |
| 6. |
Shamon Antrum (1995-96) |
113 |
| 7. |
Brian Wright (1986-89) |
111 |
| 8. |
Blake Pengelly (1997- ) |
99 |
| 9. |
Chris Crosby (1997- ) |
98 |
| 10. |
David Sanders (1986, 88-90) |
93 |
|
| Three-Point Field Goal Attempts |
| 1. |
Bennie Seltzer (1990-93) |
585 |
| 2. |
Eddie Hill (1991-94) |
561 |
| 3. |
Isaac Fontaine (1994-97) |
455 |
| 4. |
Terrance Lewis (1991-92) |
343 |
| 5. |
Donminic Ellison (1994-96) |
322 |
| 6. |
Brian Wright (1986-89) |
302 |
| 7. |
Shamon Antrum (1995-96) |
294 |
| 8. |
Chris Crosby (1997- ) |
262 |
| 9. |
David Sanders (1986, 88-90) |
251 |
| 10. |
Blake Pengelly (1997- ) |
230 |
