SPOKANE, Wash. — In an impressive performance, Dane Erikstrup recorded a career-high of 24 points, hitting six 3-pointers, as Washington State triumphed over Eastern Washington with a score of 96-81 on Thursday night.

Erikstrup showcased his abilities by shooting 8-of-14 for the game and also contributing eight rebounds for the Cougars, who now hold a record of 5-1. Cedric Coward also had a standout game, tallying 22 points with a shooting record of 7 of 12, including 3-of-5 from beyond the arc and 5-of-7 at the free-throw line. Coward supplemented his scoring with nine rebounds and a commendable seven assists. Isaiah Watts also made a significant impact, finishing with a career-best 22 points by shooting 6 of 12 from the field, 4 of 7 from three-point range, and 6 of 8 from the charity stripe, along with five assists and three steals.

From the Eagles’ side, Nic McClain led the team’s scoring with 24 points, along with seven rebounds and six steals. His fellow teammate Andrew Cook contributed 20 points, while Sebastian Hartmann added another 16 points, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win.

The Cougars excelled from the three-point line, making 16 of their 30 attempts, while the Eagles struggled significantly, hitting only 3 of 19 shots from downtown.

Washington State took control of the game 11 minutes and 51 seconds into the first half and continued to dominate thereafter. They concluded the first half with a lead of 51-36, largely thanks to Coward’s 15 points. In the second half, Washington State expanded their lead to 61-38, propelled by a scoring surge that saw them put together a 10-0 run.