Cougar Hardwood Classic

Washington State University Men’s Basketball will face the University at Buffalo in the 8th annual Cougar Hardwood Classic December 21 at KeyArena at Seattle Center.

WSU returns seven lettermen, including three starters, in 2012-13. The group is headlined by All-Pac-12 First Team/Pac-12 Most Improved Player Brock Motum, Ken Bone and company finished 2011-12 as the runner up in the College Basketball Invitational, falling just short to tournament champion Pittsburgh to end the year with 19 wins.

Buffalo returns nine players, including three with starting experience, highlighted by All-Mid-American Conference First Team selection Javon McCrea. The forward was just the third sophomore in the last 10 years to be named to the conference’s first team. McCrea is the former MAC Freshman of the Year and increased his numbers to 14.9 points and 7.1 rebounds during his second season under head coach Reggie Witherspoon.

Witherspooon’s team achieved a 20-11 record last season marking the 3rd time in four years that the Bulls have recorded at least 20 wins. Buffalo finished 12-4 in the MAC and advanced to the second round of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament before falling to Oakland, 84-76.

The event marks just the third all time meeting between the two teams, with WSU winning each of the previous contests. The schools have not faced each other since December 16, 1950 in Buffalo with the Cougars defeated the Bulls 70-49.

The December 21 contest will be the first game for Buffalo in the state of Washington.

Washington State is 7-0 all time in Cougar Harwood Classics games. Last season the Cougars defeated Pepperdine 67-56 behind 15 points from DaVonté Lacy. WSU has defeated Utah, San Diego State, The Citadel, Montana State, LSU and Portland in the other six Cougar Hardwood Classic games.

For more information visit www.cougarsinseattle.com.