Washington State coasts past Grambling

Nov 19, 2023; Uncasville, CT, USA; Washington State Cougars forward Jaylen Wells (0) shoots the ball over Rhode Island Rams guard Luis Kortright (1) during the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Mark Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Wells scored 17 points, making five of six 3-point attempts, as Washington State defeated Grambling 83-65 in a nonconference game Sunday night in Pullman, Wash.

Isaac Jones added 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Cougars (8-1), who won their sixth game in a row. Myles Rice and Rueben Chinyelu each scored 14, with Rice contributing seven assists and seven steals.

Guard Kintavious Dozier scored a career-high 34 points for Grambling (2-7), which suffered its sixth consecutive defeat. Jalen Johnson tallied 13 points.

The Cougars wrapped up the home portion of their nonconference schedule. They are set to play Santa Clara on Saturday at the Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix and Boise State in the Numerica Holiday Hoops event Dec. 21 in Spokane, Wash.

WSU built a 15-1 lead as the Tigers missed their first five shots from the field and committed four turnovers in the opening 6:30.

Dozier came off the bench and nearly single-handedly kept Grambling in the game, making his first three 3-point attempts to pull the Tigers within six at 18-12.

The Cougars pushed the lead back to 14 late in the half before Dozier made two free throws to make it 42-30 at the intermission. Dozier scored 18 points in the half.

Wells and Jones both scored 12 points in the first half for the Cougars, who shot 63 percent from the field (17 of 27) before the break.

The Tigers pulled within 11 at 63-52 on two free throws by Mikale Stevenson with 6:29 to go, but that was as close as they would get.

WSU took its biggest lead at 82-61 on two free throws by Chinyelu with 48 seconds remaining.

The Cougars shot 56.4 percent for the game (31 of 55), including 9 of 18 from 3-point range. They had a 33-21 rebounding edge, outscored the Tigers 21-5 in second-chance points and 40-32 in the paint.

–Field Level Media

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