PULLMAN, Wash. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday night, Nate Calmese led Washington State to a commanding 92-70 victory over Portland, tallying 23 points along with eight assists and three steals. The Cougars improved their record to 15-5 overall and 5-2 in the West Coast Conference thanks to a strong team effort.

Dane Erikstrup contributed significantly with 17 points, showcasing his shooting prowess by making 6 of 10 attempts, including four out of seven from beyond the arc. He also grabbed five rebounds during the game. Another key performer for the Cougars was LeJuan Watts, who also reached double figures with 15 points on 6 of 10 shooting and pulled down seven rebounds.

For the Pilots, who now sit at 6-14 overall and 1-6 in the conference, Chris Austin was the standout player, scoring 23 points. Max Mackinnon chipped in with 12 points, while A. Rapp had a solid performance with 10 points and 10 rebounds, marking a double-double.

Washington State asserted dominance late in the first half, seizing the lead with just five minutes left and maintaining control to finish the first half with a 44-35 advantage, thanks in part to Erikstrup’s contribution of 14 points. The Cougars stretched their lead to 16 points in the second half, highlighted by a 9-0 scoring run, while Calmese added 13 points during the latter period to help secure the win.

Looking ahead, both teams will be back in action on Thursday. Washington State will travel to face Santa Clara, while Portland will host San Diego for their next contest.