The 3-3 Washington State Cougars try to stay perfect at home versus the 1-3 Idaho Vandals Wednesday evening in Pullman. WSU is 3-0 at Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum disrobing 1-4 Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 1-5 Eastern Washington and 3-4 Utah Valley by a combined 68 points. 

The Cougs stomped on the Golden Lions during their last game 66-38 thanks to a terrific offensive display during the second half. Washington State outscored APB 43-22 after intermission. The Cougars held the Lions to 30 percent shooting while making 47.9 percent of their shots.

WSU also was 12-of-12 from the charity stripe while somewhat surprisingly conceded eight offensive rebounds to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Cougs ended up with just five. Senior forward Brock Motum and sophomore guard Royce Woolridge had 14 points apiece for Washington State who also got 10 from sophomore guard Dexter Kernich-Drew.

Idaho conversely is 0-1 on the road falling in their last game 73-58 at 6-0 New Mexico. The Vandals fell apart during the second half after playing the Lobos even the first 20 minutes. Idaho closed the first half on an 8-0 run and extended it to 13 straight points, but following sophomore guard Connor Hill’s three-pointer with 15:31 to go Idaho couldn’t buy a bucket.

NM made the Vandals pay by scoring 24 of the next 26. Stephen Madison’s layup with 5:35 remaining was the next made Idaho field goal. The Vandals got 20 points from Hill and 16 from senior center Kyle Barone.

Idaho can ill-afford another shooting slump if they want to play the Cougars as tough on Wednesday. WSU is probably not as solid as a bunch as New Mexico, but nevertheless Pullman is one of the liveliest places in the nation to play a college basketball game in.

The Vandals who are in last place during the current Western Athletic Conference standings are good enough to win the league, but need to finish the preseason strong to breed confidence for the WAC slate. Idaho lost by 10, won by 10 and lost by three at home already this year. The Vandals dropped a cliffhanger to the Cougs 66-64 in Moscow last season. Idaho plays Washington State tough enough for us.