PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Thomas Kelati led a balanced Washington State offense with 13 points and contributed to a suffocating defensive effort Wednesday night in a 61-42 nonconference victory over Georgia Southern.
The Cougars (2-0) held Georgia Southern (1-3) to 25 percent shooting from the field. Shami Gill scored 12 points for WSU in his injury-delayed season debut, and Jeff Varem added 11 points and a career-high 14 rebounds.
Elton Nesbitt led Georgia Southern with 21 points.
WSU limited Montana State to just 42 points last Friday, winning that game 59-42.
Georgia Southern's 42 points were the fewest for the Eagles since a 78-40 loss to Air Force on Jan. 1, 2003. The Eagles return three starters off a 21-8 team that averaged 66.3 points per game last season.
Washington State led 21-19 at the half. Georgia Southern was outscored 4-0 in the final three minutes of the first half and 8-0 for nearly four minutes to open the second half.
WSU improved to 65-2 in nonconference home games since 1990-91. The Cougars have won their first two games for three years in a row, but have not finished with a winning record since 1995-96.
