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Eastern Washington guard Nic McClain heads to the basket as Washington State forward LeJuan Watts defends during the first half of Thursday’s nonconference game at the Arena.

For as much as there was a reunion on the Arena court on Thursday night, there was almost as much of one off it.

PULLMAN – Washington State may have found the perfect opportunity for its safeties and nickels to erase some of their forgettable recent outings.

During the last couple of men’s basketball seasons, it was common for David Riley to talk about how competitive Eastern Washington’s practices were, and how the reserves played every bit as well as the starters.

PULLMAN – A certain inevitability hangs in the arena when Cedric Coward decides to take matters into his hands. Washington State’s best player is so good because of his two-way ability, because of his natural scoring savvy, because of his game smarts and veteran experience.

Sometime later this season, David Riley figures, his Washington State team will appreciate the result.

PULLMAN – LeJuan Watts took the friendly shove and shuffled backward, screaming along with his Washington State teammates and coaches, bathing in Beasley Coliseum’s raucous reaction to his impromptu dunk that snapped his group out of a deep slumber.

From staff reports

PULLMAN — In the days after Washington State opened the new season earlier this week, uncertainty hovered over the Cougars’ program. They had dispatched Portland State, but they allowed 92 points in the process, putting new head coach David Riley and his approach under scrutiny.

From staff reports

PULLMAN — David Riley gathered his assistants in a small circle near the free-throw line at Beasley Coliseum. In their first games as Washington State coaches, they all sported white polos with the crimson WSU logo stitched in the top-right corner, and early in the second half of Monday’s season-opener against Portland State, they began to put their heads together.