WSU At Arizona St.

The Cougars (5-3 Pac-10, 10-6 overall) try to recover from Thursday night’s emotionally draining loss to Arizona when they take on the Sun Devils (5-3, 15-5) at 12:45 p.m. at the University Activity Center. The game will be televised live by ABC-TV.

At a glance

WSU’s resiliency will get a major test when it takes on ASU in hopes of salvaging a split out of its desert road trip. The Cougars lost to 12th-ranked Arizona 84-76 Thursday night despite their best effort of the season and things won’t get a whole lot easier tonight against the 16th-ranked Sun Devils. ASU boasts balanced scoring and a small, but athletic, front line that is anchored by Mario Bennett, the Pac10’s ninth-leading scorer and fifthleading rebounder. Point guard Marcel Capers is back after missing the 1993-94 season with an injury and has led the Sun Devils to some impressive wins, including a 53-52 squeaker over Arizona. WSU will need an physical effort similar to Thursday night’s and a much better shooting performance to pull of the upset. The Cougars have won only once on the road this season, but are expected to benefit from the return of point guard Donminic Ellison, who had been sidelined with chicken pox. Ellison joined the team in Phoenix and is expected to play. Mark Hendrickson continues to be a major force inside and leading scorer Isaac Fontaine came up big in the second half of the Arizona loss. The Cougars have beaten the Sun Devils three times in a row.

WSU: Isaac Fontaine, 17.7 points per game, 3.2 assists; Shamon Antrum, 12.7 ppg, 3.3 apg; Mark Hendrickson, 14.3 ppg, 9.7 rebounds. ASU: Mario Bennett, 17.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg; Isaac Burton, 14.8 ppg; Ron Riley, 14.3 ppg; Marcel Capers, 6.7 apg.

Television/Radio

KXLY-TV (Channel 4) Spokane, 12:45 p.m.; KXLY (920 AM) Spokane, KWSU (1250 AM) Pullman, KORD 870 AM) Tri-Cities, KCLX (1450 AM) Colfax, KCVL (1240 AM) Colville, KWWW (1340 AM) Wenatchee, KBSN (1470 AM) Moses Lake, KNSN (97.1 FM) Walla Walla, 12:25 p.m.

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