Cougar Basketball Drops 5th Straight Game
By James Loss
Cougar basketball: WSU squanders impressive game by Ike Iroegbu to drop fifth straight.
Ike Iroegbu had a career game on Saturday, scoring 27 points with consistent drives to the basket. As impressive as his performance was, it was simply not enough. The game was tightly contested during the second half until the final seconds where Iroegbu threw up a 3-point air ball that would have tied the game at 73. George King, Colorado guard, sank 2 free throws after recovering the rebound, sealing the game at 75-70 as the final score.
Colorado started the game on a 20-2 run and from there controlled the the Cougar attack. Washington State shot only 59.3% from the free throw line (16 of 27), compared to the Buffaloes 84.6% (22 of 26). In such a close finish, the Cougars can look no further than that discrepancy to explain how they lost.
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Josh Hawkinson, Washington State’s leading scorer and rebounder, had 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots. Hawkinson’s jump shot with 21 seconds left brought the Cougs within 1 of Colorado, but it was too little too late.
Connor Clifford was replaced as starting center by Junior Longrus for this game. Longrus recorded no points while Clifford tied his career best of 18. The Cougars offense made 3 changes to the starting lineup for the game; Longrus for Clifford at center, Bret Bose for Que Johnson on the wing and Ny Redding for Charles Collison at point guard. Coach Ernie Kent has got to try something. Against Colorado, Clifford, Johnson and Colliosn outscored their replacements 28-3.
Clearly this Cougar basketball team is fighting its way through multiple struggles, as they search for relief from a 5 game losing streak. Hawkinson and the Cougars will be visiting USC on Thursday. The Trojans handed Wazzu a 90-77 loss earlier this season and WSU will be looking to get that one back and record a long awaited win.