Washington State beats MVSU 94-66

By Associated Press Published: Nov 13, 2009 at 10:32 PM PST
Washington State beats MVSU 94-66
Washington State head coach Ken Bone yells to his players during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Mississippi Valley State, Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Wash. In his first game as head coach at Washington State, his team won 94-66. (AP Photo/Dean Hare)
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) - Klay Thompson scored 20 points as Washington State beat Mississippi Valley State 94-66 Friday night in the season opener for both teams.

DeAngelo Casto added 18 points and nine rebounds as the Cougars scored their most points since recording 98 in 2003 against Washington.

Mississippi Valley State was led by Tashan Newsome, who scored 14 points. D'Angelo Jackson added 12 points and was 3 of 5 from behind the 3-point line.

Washington State scored the game's first 12 points and kept MVSU scoreless for the first five minutes. Mississippi Valley State struggled to recover and shot only 38.9 percent (21 for 54) from the field.

Washington State was just 6 of 20 from behind the 3-point line - only 2 of 12 in the first half - and had 19 turnovers.

"I'm glad this game wasn't on TV. If (former WSU coach) Dick Bennett would have been watching, that would have been embarrassing," first-year coach Ken Bone said.

Washington State outrebounded Mississippi Valley State 50-25, shot 80 percent from the free-throw line and defeated the Delta Devils for the third straight time.