Washington State Dominates LMU 94-77 in WCC Tournament Action

LAS VEGAS, NV — Washington State University men’s basketball team showcased their strength on Saturday night, clinching a commanding 94-77 victory over Loyola Marymount in the third round of the West Coast Conference Tournament at Orleans Arena. The Cougars, seeded sixth, improved their record to 19-13, securing a spot in the quarterfinals against third-seeded San Francisco set for Sunday evening.

Led by senior forward Ethan Price and guard Nate Calmese, each scoring 22 points, the Cougars took control early in the match, establishing a solid lead that they maintained throughout. Rihards Vavers contributed 16 points, demonstrating an impressive shooting performance by hitting four three-pointers, while LeJuan Watts recorded a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

“We just got back into our flow,” Calmese said. “I think this team is maturing really well… we’re just gonna keep growing over these next couple of days.”

The game started with Washington State taking the lead less than two minutes in, jumping ahead 47-39 by halftime. They extended their advantage to as much as 20 points in the second half, despite a brief resurgence from LMU, which included the Lions narrowing the gap to just 12 points late in the game.

Coach David Riley praised his team’s ability to respond to challenges. “We had 26 assists. We beat them on the glass against a really physical, veteran team,” he said. “When we look like that, we’re pretty tough to beat.”

The Lions, seeded seventh, were led by Myron Amey Jr., who scored 16 points and collected eight rebounds. Jevon Porter added 13 points, while Jan Vide and Caleb Stone-Carrawell each netted 10.

Despite some shaky moments fueled by turnovers and foul trouble, the Cougars managed to maintain their intensity. They matched their season high in assists, demonstrating a strong ball movement strategy throughout the contest.

As the team gears up for a challenging matchup against San Francisco, they will face a Dons squad missing star guard Marcus Williams, who is sidelined due to an NCAA rules violation.

In the historical context of their season, Washington State improved to 14-1 when scoring over 80 points, reflecting their offensive capabilities. The Cougars are eager to continue their winning momentum as they prepare to face the Dons.

“We need to keep playing like we did today and focus on not letting mistakes derail us,” Price noted. “We have what it takes to be competitive moving forward.”