HOT COUGAR ACTION: The First Post Of 2012

Welcome to the first post of 2012. Hopefully everyone had a safe and enjoyable New Year's Eve. What better way to kickoff a new year than victory recaps. Let's start with highlights and post game interviews from the men's 81-76 win against Oregon State.

MBB: Cougs over Beavs! 12/31 (via WSUCougarAthletics)

MBB: Ken Bone Postgame! 12/31 (via WSUCougarAthletics)

MBB: Postgame Player Sound! 12/31 (via WSUCougarAthletics)

Cougars Top Oregon St., 81-76 - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
Brock Motum led Washington State with 26 points and eight rebounds Saturday in an 81-76 win over Oregon State. DaVonte Lacy added 18 points for the Cougars (9-5, 1-1 Pac-12).

Cougs Knock Off Oregon State in Double Overtime - The Washington State University Official Athletic Site
CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Senior guard Jazmine Perkins notched her third straight double-double to help Washington State University beat Oregon State University 61-54 in double overtime Saturday afternoon.

Cougars top OSU for first conference win - Spokesman.com - Dec. 31, 2011
After getting smoked Thursday night by Oregon in their Pac-12 opener, the Washington State Cougars knew they needed to change a few things against Oregon State on Saturday afternoon. Well, actually, a lot of things.

Cougars survive ‘gut check’ game | WSU Cougars - The News Tribune
Behind 26 points from Brock Motum, Cougars outlast pesky Beavers to avoid 0-2 conference start SPOKANE – Ken Bone is a reasonable man. He understands that Pacific-12 Conference basketball teams play 18 league games, so starting 0-1 is no cause for panic

Blanchette: Cougars welcome Moore’s leadership - Spokesman.com - Jan. 1, 2012
All but the last three points of what once was a double-digit lead had been planed away, and time was ticking away on what was shaping up to be another empty possession. This was a tipping point – in the game, maybe in the season for Washington State.

Washington State 81, Oregon State 76: Beavers wait too long to find their high gear | OregonLive.com
SPOKANE -- The season may have started with optimism, but the year certainly ended in disappointment.

Hindsight sets off highs, lows - Spokesman.com - Jan. 1, 2012

2011 was a year that some in the Inland Northwest could be thankful for.

Cougars | Mike Leach's arrival will make Cougars fascinating | Seattle Times Newspaper

How to describe the ride ahead for followers of Washington State football and its pirate/coach, Mike Leach? How about fascinating?

WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia | Tri-City Herald - The News Tribune

1. WSU hires a new football coach. It's Pirate time in the Palouse. Mike Leach, exiled by the college football community after accusations that he locked a concussed player in an electrical closet, finally caught a break when Washington State fired Paul Wulff in November after a 4-8 season.