PULLMAN – Ernie Kent has stressed the importance of playing a basketball game against Idaho every season as long as he holds his job as Washington State, but some might contend the coach hasn’t placed as much emphasis in actually winning the Battle of the Palouse, judging by his win-loss record in a series the Pullmanites have historically dominated.
Yes, Kent and WSU had lost their grip on the oldest college basketball rivalry west of the Misssissippi River, losing three of the last four to the Vandals including a 91-64 stinker in Moscow last season, but nobody could question the home team’s effort, purpose or desire Wednesday night as the Cougars raced past the Vandals for a 90-70 win at Beasley Coliseum in front of an announced 2,748 fans.