Washington State Faces Santa Clara in Crucial Quad 1 Showdown

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University (WSU) enters a pivotal stretch of its basketball season with a Quad 1 matchup against Santa Clara on Thursday night. The game, set for an 8 p.m. tip-off at the Leavey Center, marks the first of four Quad 1 opportunities for the Cougars in the next two weeks.

Santa Clara (13-7, 5-2 WCC) arrives with momentum after a stunning 103-99 road victory over Gonzaga, where they drained 18 three-pointers. However, the Broncos also carry inconsistency, having recently fallen to Loyola Marymount (LMU) in a low-scoring 54-point performance. Their success hinges on their three-point shooting, which soared to 47% against Gonzaga but plummeted to 15% against LMU.

WSU (15-5, 5-2) will rely on its strong three-point defense, ranked third in the conference, to counter Santa Clara’s sharpshooters. Guard Tyeree Bryan, who scored a career-high 35 points against Gonzaga, poses a significant threat with his catch-and-shoot prowess. WSU’s freshman guard Tomas Thrastarson, standing at 6-foot-6, may be tasked with containing Bryan, depending on the availability of injured guard Isaiah Watts.

Santa Clara’s Adama-Alpha Bal, a 6-foot-7 wing, also presents matchup challenges after scoring all 20 of his points in the second half against Gonzaga. WSU sophomore LeJuan Watts, known for his defensive tenacity, will likely draw the assignment against Bal.

Despite Santa Clara’s offensive firepower, their defense has struggled, allowing opponents to shoot 57.2% on two-pointers this season. WSU, which has excelled in attacking the rim, converting 57% of its two-point attempts, plans to exploit this weakness. “We can get good 2s and good 3s no matter what if we just play the right way,” WSU coach David Riley said.

The game holds significant implications for both teams’ NCAA Tournament aspirations. Santa Clara, currently on the bubble with a 20% chance of earning an at-large bid, according to Bart Torvik data, aims to solidify its resume. WSU, seeking to rebound from a costly Quad 4 loss to Pacific, views this as a chance to bolster its own tournament credentials.

Tip-off is scheduled for 11 p.m. ET, with the game airing on CBS Sports Network. WSU enters as a 4.5-point underdog, while the over/under is set at 158.5 points.