Elleby scores 34 to help Cougars snap four-game losing streak to Huskies

February 9, 2020 5:17 PM

Alyssa Charlston,

Posted: February 9, 2020 5:17 PM

Updated: February 10, 2020 12:43 AM

by Alyssa Charlston

CJ Elleby scores 34 to lead WSU to Apple Cup victory — CJ Elleby celebrated by teammates on the bench after 34-point night

PULLMAN, Wash. — When a basketball season has as many highs and lows as Washington State and Washington’s, rivalry wins can mean everything.

For the first time in four tries, the Cougars were victorious over the Huskies, a 79-67 final, thanks to a career-high 34-point night from sophomore CJ Elleby.

The Huskies were led by Nahziah Carter, who put up 18 points.

Washington State came into the Apple Cup rivalry after a bad shooting night in a loss to Arizona at home. But they’ve experience weekends like beating No. 8 Oregon and Oregon State the same weekend the Palouse was in high spirits as Klay Thompson’s jersey was retired.

The Washington Huskies came into Pac-12 play with a 10-3 record, hoping to live up to expectations with Mike Hopkin’s best recruiting class in Seattle in his short tenure. But the Dawgs traveled to Pullman carrying a 2-8 record, and having lost seven of their last eight games.

The Cougs got out to a 21-11 lead after a three by CJ Elleby and a jumper by Jervae Robison.

A six-minute drought following that hot start helped Washington storm back to take a short lead, but WSU led 38-33 at halftime.

Legendary head coach for the Cougars, George Raveling was honored at halftime, as his name was lifted into the rafters at Beasley Colisseum.

The Dawgs came out of halftime as the better shooting team, taking a 44-43 lead after an Isaiah Stewart lay-in, he finished with 11 points.

Cue a CJ Elleby 7-0 run on his own. He hit his fifth three of the game, two free throws and a layin after a steal to get the Cougs back on top by 6 with about 12 minutes to play.

Noah Williams extended the lead to 60-50 after a steal and dunk on the other end. He finished with 10 points.

The Huskies still had some run left in them. Jaden McDaniels converted a four-point play with three minutes left to cut the Washington State lead to 4, at 69-64.

A few possessions later, CJ Elleby scored his 32nd point to extend the Cougs’ lead to five points, and Washington State was able to close it out in the end, thanks to Washington burning all their timeouts.

The 79-67 win snaps a four-game losing streak for Washington State in the Apple Cup, as stated above. The Cougs get UCLA this Thursday in Los Angeles at 8 p.m.