IUPUI @ Washington St. preview

The week-long break for finals came at just the right time for Washington State, which has lost three in a row since winning the Wooden Legacy championship game. The Cougars look to get back on track Saturday against visiting IUPUI, which has allowed an average of 85.3 points during its four-game losing streak.

After losing by 14 to UC Davis and by 27 at Idaho, the Cougars faltered in the second half of last Saturday 76-69 loss at UTEP and lacked the magic present during the team’s 6-0 start. Guard Viont’e Daniels scored a career-high 18 points on six 3-pointers in the loss while forward Robert Franks grabbed nine rebounds and extended his double-digit scoring streak to seven games with 14 points. The Cougars received Top 25 votes after beating Saint Joseph’s, Saint Mary’s and San Diego State in the Wooden Legacy, but coach Ernie Kent said his young squad’s current losing streak isn’t entirely unexpected. Franks is averaging a team-high 19.2 points and 7.0 rebounds for the Cougars, whose rebounding margin of minus-2.1 ranks last in the Pac-12.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT IUPUI (2-6): Senior forward Aaron Brennan averages 13.8 points and 4.5 rebounds to lead the Jaguars, who trailed by as many as 32 midway through the second half of last Sunday’s 86-61 loss at Purdue. The team’s balanced lineup includes guards Ron Patterson (10.5 points per game) and T.J. Henderson, who has scored in double figures in seven games. Picked to finish tenth in the Horizon League preseason poll, the undersized Jaguars own a rebounding margin of minus-0.5.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (6-3): Graduate transfer Drick Bernstine scored a season-high 13 points in the loss to UTEP while junior guard Kwinton Hinson added 10 in his first start, but the Cougars need more production from point guard Malachi Flynn. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has scored an average of 6.0 points on 4-of-12 shooting in his last two games after averaging 23.0 points in his previous three contests. Sophomore forward Jeff Pollard is also looking to get untracked after playing well at the Wooden Legacy, where he averaged 13.5 points in wins over Saint Mary’s and San Diego State.

TIP-INS

1. Washington State is averaging 43.1 points in the second half compared to 32.7 in the first.

2. IUPUI is 3-56 under coach Jason Gardner when its opponent posts a higher field goal percentage.

3. The Cougars lead the Pac-12 with an average of 12.1 made 3-pointers per game.

PREDICTION: Washington State 77, IUPUI 59