CJ Elleby scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as Washington State defeated visiting UC Riverside 70-56 Sunday afternoon in a nonconference game in Pullman, Wash.

Jeff Pollard added 16 points and seven rebounds, Aljaz Kunc scored 13 points and Isaac Bonton had 12 for the Cougars (6-4), who won their third consecutive game. It was the opener of a six-game homestand for WSU, which includes the start of Pac-12 play on Jan. 2.

Angus McWilliam had 13 points and six rebounds and George Willborn III scored 11 points for the Highlanders (7-4), who lost for just the second time in their past seven games. McWilliam scored all but three of his points in the first half, and Willborn had all his in the second.

Guard Khyber Kabellis didn't score for UCR, but had team-high totals of seven rebounds and five assists.

Leading 38-37 with 12:13 remaining, Washington State used a 12-0 run to pull away. Elleby, a sophomore forward, made a 3-pointer and a three-point play during the streak, and the Highlanders trailed by double-digits the rest of the game.

The Cougars might have been in trouble if not for big runs to start both halves.

WSU took a 9-0 lead in the opening 1:53 on three 3-pointers, two by Kunc and the other by Pollard.

The Highlanders pulled within 25-24 on a layup by McWilliam with 1:10 left in the half before Pollard made two free throws with 48 seconds remaining to give the Cougars a 27-24 halftime lead.

WSU scored the first six points of the second half to take a 33-24 lead on two baskets by Elleby and a driving layup by Kunc. The Cougars extended the lead to 35-25 on two free throws by Pollard.

But the Highlanders responded with a 10-0 run, sparked by Willborn's 3-pointer and capped by his fast-break layup off a WSU turnover, to tie the score.

The Highlanders committed 23 turnovers, leading to 24 WSU points. The Cougars had a 16-2 edge in fast-break points.

--Field Level Media