Northwest Sports & Entertainment is proud to announce the Cougar Hardwood Classic will be returning for its fifth year. Coming to Seattle in 2009 to play the Washington State Cougars will be Trent Johnson and the Tigers of Louisiana State University.

Johnson, a Seattle native, led LSU to their 10th league championship with a 13-3 record and was named SEC Coach of the Year. The Tigers have been selected as the No. 8 seed in the South Region of the NCAA Tournament. WSU received a No. 7 seed in the NIT.

The Cougars and Tigers last played on December 27, 2008 in Baton Rouge and LSU rallied to win 64-52. WSU led by seven points midway through the second half, but the Tigers went on a 24-5 run to end the game. The Tigers lead the all time series 2-1.

Washington State is 4-0 all time in Cougar Harwood Classics games. In 2008 Klay Thompson led the Cougars with 14 points as they topped Montana State 70-51. Thompson shot 6 for 8 from the field and recorded 6 rebounds as WSU jumped all over the Bobcats early and coasted to the easy victory. WSU has defeated The Citadel, San Diego State and Utah in the other three Cougar Hardwood Classic games.

Including games at the University of Washington, the Cougars have won the last 7 of the last 8 games they have played in Seattle.

Ticket information and additional details will be released this summer.