The Washington State Cougars men’s basketball team had a dominant performance against UC Riverside on Tuesday night, overpowering the Highlanders 86-49. The Cougars were led by a 23-0 first-half run that put them in control of the game early on.
Washington State was led by senior forward CJ Elleby, who scored a game-high 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Isaac Bonton (15 points) and Tony Miller (14 points). The Cougars shot an impressive 53.7 percent from the field and held UC Riverside to just 27.3 percent shooting.
The Cougars controlled the game from the start, outscoring the Highlanders 23-0 in the first half to take a commanding lead. Washington State continued to dominate in the second half, outscoring UC Riverside 63-49.
The Cougars’ defense was impressive, forcing 16 turnovers and holding the Highlanders to just seven assists. Washington State also outrebounded UC Riverside 41-30 and had a significant advantage in points in the paint (44-26).
Washington State’s win over UC Riverside was their fourth straight victory and improved their record to 8-2 on the season. The Cougars have been impressive this season and look to continue their success as they head into conference play.
The Cougars will be back in action on Saturday when they take on the Oregon Ducks. It should be an exciting matchup between two teams looking to make a statement in the Pac-12 this season.
