WSU Cougars open with 84-59 win over Idaho in Battle of the Palouse

Andrej Jakimovski scored 21 points to lead the WSU Cougars to an 84-59 victory over Idaho in a season opener on Monday night.

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nov 6, 2023, 10:23 PM Updated: 11:29 pm

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WSU forward Andrej Jakimovski celebrates a basket during a game on Jan. 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

(AP Photo/Young Kwak)

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Andrej Jakimovski scored 21 points to lead the WSU Cougars to an 84-59 victory over Idaho in a season opener on Monday night.

WSU Cougars 84, Idaho Vandals 59: Box score

Jakimovski sank 8 of 16 shots with three 3-pointers for the Cougars. Redshirt freshman Myles Rice, who missed all of last season battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma, finished with 13 points, four rebounds and three assists in a start. Isaac Jones totaled 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. Rueben Chinyelu, a 6-toot-11 freshman, added eight points and eight rebounds in a start.

Quinn Denker scored 12 points to lead the Vandals.

Idaho shot 34.6% from the floor and made just 5 of 25 from 3-point range. WSU shot 54.4% overall and made 7 of 18 from distance. The Cougars sank only 15 of 29 free throws.

Jakimovski scored 11 points in the first half to guide the Cougars to a 41-28 lead in the 278th Battle of the Palouse.

Up and under for Jaki as he continues to lead all scorers tonight!#GoCougs // #CVE // @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/eEA06gHjh8

— Washington State Men's Basketball (@WSUCougarsMBB) November 7, 2023

The schools are separated by eight miles and boast one of the oldest rivalries in college basketball, dating back to 1906. The Cougars lead the 11th-longest running series 168-110.

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