FACTS & STATS: Site: Friel Court (12,058) -- Pullman, Washington. Television: Local. Home Record: NC A&T 2-0, Washington St. 6-0. Away Record: NC A&T 1-6, Washington St. 4-0. Neutral Record: NC A&T 2-1, Washington St. 1-0. Conference Record: NC A&T 0-1, Washington St. 0-0. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: In what appears to be a monumental mismatch, the fourth-ranked Washington State Cougars play host to the North Carolina A&T Aggies this evening in Pullman. NC A&T has lost three straight games and five of the last six to fall to 5-7 overall. The most recent loss came at Miami-Florida on Sunday by a 95-64 final, and five of the six road losses for the team have come by 18 or more points. Clearly, the Aggies enter tonight's game as enormous underdogs. Washington State is off to its best start since the 1991-92 season when the club opened 12-0. The Cougars can equal that mark with a win tonight, and considering that eight of their 11 triumphs thus far have come by double figures, confidence figures to be at a tremendous height. On Sunday, WSU crushed Idaho State by a 75-45 final on the road. Tonight's contest marks the first-ever meeting between Washington State and NC A&T on the hardwood.

Through 12 games, NC A&T is averaging a solid 76.9 ppg, but the club is allowing 79.1 ppg. Clearly, the Aggies have failed to even remain competitive in games played against quality opponents thus far. The leading scorer for NC A&T is Steven Rush, as he is posting 16.5 ppg despite his 35.2 percent shooting from the field. Jason Willis adds 11.3 ppg and 7.8 rpg to the lineup, while Austin Ewing checks in with 10.2 ppg. Ewing scored 14 points on Sunday against Miami-Florida, and Rush posted 13 points. Unfortunately, the Aggies were simply outclassed in that contest. They turned the ball over 22 times and finished a dismal 10-of-22 from the foul line. Defensively, they permitted Miami to connect on 58.1 percent of its field goal attempts.

Washington State has earned its high national ranking because of tremendous defensive play and an efficient effort at the offensive end. The Cougars are only allowing 51.1 ppg on 37.3 percent shooting from the field, and they are netting 69.8 ppg at the offensive end on 51.1 percent overall shooting. Derrick Low is scoring 12.5 ppg, and Kyle Weaver checks in with 11.8 ppg. The third and final double-digit scorer for the Cougars is Aron Baynes with 11.4 ppg, and he is pulling down 6.5 rpg. Low scored 20 points in the romp over Idaho State on Sunday, and Weaver finished that contest with 18 points. The Cougars nailed 8- of-16 three-pointers and 27-of-33 free throws, strong numbers by any standards. They also limited the overmatched Bengals to 38.6 percent shooting from the field while forcing them into 17 turnovers.

Go with Washington State this evening, as it is far superior to NC A&T in all aspects of the game. The Cougars will dominate play at both ends of the floor.

Predicted Outcome

Washington State 74, North Carolina A&T 52