Cougs catch fire from three against Eags in Spokane

WSU nails 15 threes in blowout win

Drew Lawson, The Record-Times | Last updated Nov 23, 2022 10:0am0

Photos by Drew Lawson | The Record-Times count

WSU junior Jabe Mullins cuts off EWU junior Tyreese Davis in the Cougars' 82-56 win over the Eagles at the Spokane Arena Monday, Nov. 21.

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SPOKANE-In a battle of Inland Northwest schools, it was the Washington State Cougars doing the hunting from three-point land against the Eastern Washington Eagles. WSU knocked down 15 threes, including a career-high eight from St. Mary's transfer Jabe Mullins, en route to a convincing 82-56 win over EWU at the Spokane Arena Monday, Nov. 21.

WSU never trailed in a game it had to have to avoid falling to 1-3 this season after two early season losses to Boise State and Prairie View A&M.

Mullins came into the game just 3-11 from downtown through three games this season before his breakout performance Monday.

"We were just hungry like some animals at the zoo," Mullins said. "After our last game we just wanted to come out and get rid of that taste in our mouths."

While Mullins was the unlikely hero, WSU wasn't lacking for offensive production. Mouhamed Gueye had 17 points, including a three on the first possession of the game that set the tone for a night in which the Cougars never trailed.

TJ Bamba and Justin Powell had 14 points apiece for WSU, which finished 15-30 from three and 31-64 from the field.

"We kind of settled into eight guys tonight taking the majority of the minutes," WSU head coach Kyle Smith said. "Those eight guys, especially Adrame (Diongue) did a really good job for us."

While WSU thrived on the offensive end, EWU had the opposite experience. The Eagles came out on the struggle bus offensively, shooting 6-29 from the field and 2-15 from three in the first half, digging themselves a 36-21 halftime hole.

EWU was more efficient offensively in the second half, shooting 40.6% from the field, but by that point, WSU was rolling. The Cougars were 8-13 from three in the second half to build a lead as big as 28 in a game that was never in doubt.

"I thought we executed pretty decent overall," EWU head coach David Riley said. "We missed some very makeable shots and I'm comfortable with our guys taking some of those shots. We just shot 30% or something like that."

WSU improved to 2-2 with the win and will host Detroit Mercy in a Black Friday tilt at 1 p.m. on the PAC-12 Network. EWU fell to 1-4 and will play Stony Brook in the Florida International Tournament Friday at 2:30 p.m.