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KENNEWICK -- It has been nearly 12 years since the Washington State University men's basketball team has played a regular season game in the Tri-Cities.
Back in 1997, the then-struggling Cougars fell 83-82 to Eastern Washington University.
Today, the Cougars are back and better, and they've brought the women's team with them for a men's-women's doubleheader that begins at 1:30 p.m. at Toyota Center.
They'll be welcomed with open arms, as a sellout of 6,000 fans is expected for the twinbill.
It's officially called the Tri-Cities Cougar Classic presented by Gesa Credit Union, with the Wazzu women playing the University of San Francisco at 1:30 p.m.
The Cougar men will follow that up with a 4:30 p.m. tipoff against Portland State University.
The women's game will be televised live on SWX out of Spokane, then replayed at 10 p.m. today on FSN.
The men's game will be live on FSN.
The men's game features a matchup for WSU coach Ken Bone against his former team. After coaching the Vikings the previous four seasons, Bone was hired in the offseason by WSU to replace Tony Bennett, who left the Cougars for Virginia.
Will Bone have mixed feelings today?
"No. I enjoyed my time there," Bone said. "They've got some great kids there, and I'm also a big fan. I hope they win every game they play except against us. For this particular game, I hope we outscore them by one."
The Cougars (8-2) are led by sophomore G Klay Thompson, who averages 25.1 points and 5.8 rebounds. Freshman G Reggie Moore averages 13.5 points and sophomore F/C DeAngelo Casto (10.7 points and 6.7 rebounds) also averages in double-figure scoring.
Sophomore G Marcus Capers (6.8 points) and sophomore F/G Abe Lodwick (3.7 points) round out the Cougs' starting lineup.
PSU coach Tyler Geving counters with four starters who average in double figures -- senior G Dominic Waters (17.9 points, 5.3 assists), junior G Melvin Jones (13.0 points, 50 percent from 3-point line), junior F Phil Nelson (12.5 points), and senior F Jamie Jones (12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds). Junior F Paul Guede (4.8 points) rounds out the starting five.
The Vikings are a very good 3-point shooting team, and Bone knows the Cougars will have to defend on the 3-point line.
"We hope to be on them when they catch the ball," said Bone. "And when they do we need to contest the shot without fouling."
The WSU women (4-5) have won two of their last three games, and the Dons (4-8) are the third West Coast Conference team they've faced this month.
WSU coach June Daugherty has the sixth youngest Division I team in the nation.
WSU starts three sophomores and two freshmen -- G KiKi Moore (13.6 points) and center Carly Noyes (6.1 points) -- sophomores G April Cook (13.1 points), G Jazmine Perkins (12.7 points and 6.9 rebounds) and F Rosie Tarnowski (6.7 boards).
USF coach Tanya Haave will counter with sophomores G Rheina Ale (13.8 points), G Vania Singleterry (7.6 points) and F Katy Keating (6.2 points); junior G Brittany Brumfield (2.3 points) and senior G/F Nnenna Okereke (1.5 rebounds).
Fans of local high school girls basketball should remember Noyes, who dominated the CBBN 4A/3A the past four seasons at Moses Lake. The 6-foot-5 Noyes already has 11 blocked shots this season, tying her for 10th on the single-season mark.
Ironically Moore -- WSU's top scorer -- hails from San Francisco, where she prepped at Sacred Heart Cathedral.
NOTES: Pregame pep rallies will be held at 12:30 p.m. and at 3:30 p.m. in the Sunset Lounge upstairs in the Toyota Center. The pep rallies are free and open to all Cougar fans, with visits by WSU coaches, cheer squad members and Butch T. Cougar. Food and beverages are available to purchase starting at $4. Space is limited. ... The Associated Students of WSU Tri-Cities purchased -- and sold out -- 400 seats to students. Each student ticket included a special crimson T-shirt.
