• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Gonzaga hoping to beat rival Washington State

Dec 10, 2008 - 11:34 AM No. 4 Gonzaga (6-0) at Washington State (6-2), 10:00 p.m. EST

PULLMAN, Washington (Ticker) -- Gonzaga is beginning to prove it's one of the best teams in the nation. On Wednesday, it will have to show that its the best in its own state.

The fourth-ranked Bulldogs visit Washington State.

Gonzaga has lost two straight contests to its intra-state rivals, including last season's 51-47 setback.

The loss was the Bulldogs' first in the McCarthey Center when the team was ranked in the Top 25. Prior to the game forward Micah Downs proclaimed that Gonzaga was the best team in the state of Washington.

Josh Heytvelt scored 17 points to lead Gonzaga to a 70-54 victory over Indiana on Saturday. Heytvelt leads six players averaging in double figures at 15.3 points per game.

The Cougars have lost two of their last three games since opening the season 5-0. Washington State is coming off a 58-52 loss at home to Baylor on Saturday.

Freshman Klay Thompson is averaging 11.6 points per contest to lead the Cougars, who are surrendering 45.3 points per game. Thompson scored a season-low four points in Saturday's loss.