Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Klay Thompson posted a game-high 26 points and collected six rebounds to lead the Washington State Cougars to a thrilling 72-70 overtime victory against the LSU Tigers as part of the Cougar Hardwood Classic at KeyArena.

DeAngelo Casto added 13 points to go with eight boards in the win for Washington State (10-2), while Reggie Moore and Nikola Koprivica chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Cougars.

Bo Spencer tallied 23 points to lead the way for LSU (8-3), while Tasmin Mitchell notched 18 points and collected 14 rebounds in the losing effort. Aaron Dotson got into the mix as well, as he finished with 11 points for the Tigers.

The Cougars held LSU to a mere 33.3 percent from the floor during the opening stanza and took a 36-30 lead into the locker room.

A 43.5 percent shooting effort from the field during the second half gave the Tigers a 62-60 lead with 20 seconds remaining in regulation, but a pair of missed free throws from LSU's Chris Bass led to a jumper by Casto with seven seconds left to force overtime.

In the extra frame, the Tigers missed seven straight field goals while the Cougars converted 8-of-11 at the foul line to earn the two-point win.

LSU converted a paltry 18-of-27 from the charity stripe in the loss.

12/23 01:23:50 ET

WSU, Jack Thompson and World Vision Partner for American Samoa Tsunami Relief

 

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University and World Vision have joined forces, along with the assistance of Cougar great Jack Thompson, to meet the ongoing needs of American Samoa residents following the devastating tsunami that struck the region two months ago.

 

Prior to Saturday’s home football game against UCLA, WSU students, World Vision and Thompson will be outside Martin Stadium on the WSU campus urging fans to “Fill the Helmet” to help traumatized children and families receive much-needed supplies. Donations will be accepted beginning three hours before the game up through kickoff.

 

“Being a Pacific Islander, this is a cause that hits very close to home for my family and me,” said Thompson. “I’m grateful for the partnership with World Vision and Washington State University and we are asking for members of the Cougar family to aide those affected by this tragic event.

 

“It has been weeks since the tragedy yet the need is still huge,” Thompson continued. “World Vision not only focuses on the immediate need of victims, but its impact will be felt long term as it  will aid in recovery and rebuilding.”

 

Jordan Pritchard, a WSU junior majoring in the Business Entrepreneur Program, is organizing student volunteers to assist with the “Fill the Helmet” project. Pritchard, who has family in Leone, American Samoa that were directly impacted by the tsunami, is recruiting 50-60 WSU student volunteers, the core group coming from the Pacific Islanders Club, to assist with relief efforts.

 

“What is really driving this effort for me is the fact than many families who once lived in nice houses are now living in tents,” said Pritchard. “We have been taught since we were little that if someone needs help, we need to be there for them.”

 

In addition to donations made at the game, fans unable to attend can also contribute to American Samoa Tsunami Relief by visiting www.worldvision.org/respond.

Friday, April 24 -   It was announced today by Washington State Athletic Director Jim Sterk that the Cougars have decided to end their pursuit of playing the annual Apple Cup game at Qwest Field.

4-24-09 Jim Sterk Conference Call Washington State Athletic Director Jim Sterk discusses the school's decision to pull out of holding the Apple Cup at Qwest Field.   To download the podcast, right-click "Listen" and select "Save As" from the menu.

Monday, April 6 - Vince Grippi of the Spokesman-Review, was the first to report that Ken Bone has been named the new head coach of the Washington State Cougars. 

Since that announcement earlier this afternoon, Washington State officials have confirmed the hiring, here is their release:

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University and Director of Athletics Jim Sterk will introduce Ken Bone as the 17th Cougar men's basketball head coach during a press conference Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. PDT in the Camp Room at the Bohler Athletic Complex.

 

Bone spent the past four years as the head coach at Portland State, leading the Vikings to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007-08 and 2008-09. The Vikings went 23-10 during each of the last two years, the two best seasons in the 48-year history of the program. In his four seasons with the Vikings, Bone posted a 77-49 record, recording the best winning percentage of any PSU coach since basketball was reinstated in 1996-97 (.611).

 

Bone led Portland State to its finest season in school history in 2007-08, winning a school-record 23 games en route to the Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament titles and making the school’s first appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament. As a result, Bone earned Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year honors, becoming the first Viking basketball coach to do so.

 

Over the last two seasons at PSU, Bone coached a Big Sky Conference Player and Newcomer of the Year, the Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year and four All-Big Sky selections. Portland State also notched its first win over a ranked opponent in school history, defeating No. 7 Gonzaga, 77-70 in Spokane (Dec. 23, 2008). This season the Vikings gave Washington a scare with a one-point, 84-83 loss in Seattle (Dec. 14, 2008).  

 

No stranger to the Pacific Northwest, Bone holds a 335-167 record in 17 years as a head coach, including 12 seasons at his alma mater, Seattle Pacific University. He registered a 253-97 (.723) record with the Falcons between 1990-2002. Bone’s SPU teams claimed six outright or shared Pacific West Conference championships and earned eight NCAA playoff appearances. The Falcons made five trips to the NCAA Division II Sweet 16 over a span of eight years, including a semifinal appearance in 2000 that capped a 27-5 season. In 2000, Bone was recognized as both NABC District 8 Coach of the Year and PacWest Conference Co-Coach of the Year.

 

During Bone’s final season at Seattle Pacific, the Falcons posted a 24-5 record, advanced to the second round of the NCAA playoffs and were ranked ninth in the final 2002 poll.

 

Between his stints at SPU and PSU, Bone spent the 2002-05 seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, playing a major role as the program returned to national prominence.

 

In 2005 Bone helped direct Washington to the Pacific-10 Conference title as the Huskies earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16. The previous year, Washington had a runner-up finish in the Pac-10 regular-season standings. In 2004 the Huskies advanced to the championship game of the Pac-10 Tournament and competed in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. That season UW swept the three meetings with highly-ranked Arizona and capped the regular season with a win over No. 1 and undefeated Stanford.

 

A Seattle native, Bone graduated from Seattle Pacific in 1983 and received his master’s in athletic administration in 1993. He played two seasons (1980-82) at SPU after one-year stints at Shoreline and Edmonds (Wash.) Community Colleges. He is a Shorecrest (Wash.) High School graduate.

 

Ken and his wife Connie have three daughters, Kendra, Jenae and Chelsea.

Friday, April 3 -   Current UAB basketball coach and former coach of the Indiana Hooisers, Mike Davis has been interviewed in Detroit at the Final Four by Washington State Athletic Director Jim Sterk, according to our own 950 KJR host Ian Furness

Davis has been at UAB for the last three years, compiling a 60-38 record and 22-12 last season. 

Before he was the head coach at UAB, Davis was at Indiana and led them to a 115-79 record in six years, including the 2002 National title game against Maryland, the Hoosiers lost that game.

For further observation on the Davis story, check out what Vince Grippi had to say:



Jason Puckett

E-Mail

*****start poll*****

Poll: Did Tony Bennett make a mistake by leaving Pullman?

*****end poll*****

Monday, March 30 -   Here is an update on Tony Bennett leaving Washington State:


 

Jim Sterk Conference Call  Click Here

Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk addressed the media today and talked about Tony Bennett's decision to leave Pullman and become the new head coach at the Univeristy of Virginia. 

Sterk said that Bennett was leaning on staying at Washington State on Sunday, however, he decided on Monday that he would indeed take the job with Virginia and informed the University of his decsion.

Sterk did confirm that Portland State head coach Ken Bone has been contacted by Washington State.  In addition, Sterk said he would contact San Diego head coach Bill Grier.   According to Sterk the University would like to have  a choice quickly, perhaps seven days to a couple of weeks.  Sterk was adament that he didn't want this to linger for weeks.

In addition, Sterk said that Virginia paid the school Bennett's buyout clause which was $400,000 dollars.  Also, Bennett received a $100,000 dollar retention bonus on March 15.  According to Sterk, if Bennett stayed at Washington State he offered to give that $100,000 back to the school

Other highlights:

 - Sterk said the program was in a better position now since the Bennett's (Dick and Tony) took over the program. 

 - No assistant coaches will be considered for the head coaching vacancy at WSU.  None of the coaches have resigned as of yet.  All the coaches are under contract through June 30. 


After three years as the head coach and six years total spent in Pullman, head basketball coach Tony Bennett is leaving Pullman and is headed to the University of Virginia.

Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk said in a statemet released today that Virginia had asksed permission to speak with Bennett last Friday and Bennett then informed Sterk and school President Elson S. Floyd.

"Dick and Tony have elevated the men's basketball program at Washington State to unprecedented level of success.  We will begin a national search for a coach immediately with the goal of finding someone with the integrity, experience, and values that Dick and Tony brought to the program," said Sterk.

Dave Leitao was forced to resigned two weeks ago.  His overall record is 63-60 and finished 10-18 overall and 4-12 in the ACC.

*** Here's an update: 

Portland State athletic director Torre Chisholm confirmed tonight that Washington State has contacted him about speaking with their head coach Ken Bone about their coaching vacancy.

Bone, 50-years old, led the Portland State Vikings to a 23-10 record this past season and it was their second consecutive season with a NCAA appearance.

Bone could not be reached for comment.

  Bone and Washington State athletic director Jim Sterk have crossed paths.  Sterk was the associated athletic director for Seattle Pacific (1990-1991) at the same time that Bone (1990-2002) was the head coach, previously Bone was the assistant for 14 years.

Bone recently signed a contract extension in December and it runs through 2013.  In addition, the contract has a $50,000 dollar buyout if Bone decides to coach somewhere else.

In 12 seasons at Seattle Pacific, Bone was 253-97 and his team made eight appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.


Jason Puckett

E-Mail

Wednesday, March 25 - Spring football practice is set to get underway on Thursday in Pulmman for second-year head coach Paul Wulff.  On Wednesday, Wulff joined the media on a conference call and talked about many subjects including on improving on last years 2-11 record.

Wulff and the Cougars return 41 lettermen, 24 on offense, 14 on defense and three kickers.   Senior center Kenny Alfred returns with the most experience, having started every single game last season.

The spring game will take place on April 25.  The Cougars first game of the season will be on Sept. 5 at home against Stanford.

For a quick listen to what Paul Wulff said today, give a listen to the podcast below:

Paul Wulff Spring Conference Call WSU head coach Paul Wulff discusses spring football   To download the podcast, right-click "Listen" and select "Save As" from the menu.

Tuesday, March 17 -   Washington State will face the LSU Tigers in next years fifth annual Cougar Hardwood Classic.

The game will take place on December 22nd at KeyArena.   Washington State is a perfect 4-for-4 in the Classic.

The Tigers and Cougars played this past season.  Washington State led throughout, however, LSU made a late run and pulled away at the end for a 64-52 win.

For more information on the tournament you can check it out here:  www.cougarsinseattle.com


Jason Puckett