In Paradise, Nevada, Washington State, a No. 6 seed, triumphed over Loyola Marymount, holding a seventh-seed position, with a score of 94-77 on Saturday night in the West Coast Conference Tournament.
The Cougars are now set to challenge No. 3 seed San Francisco in the quarterfinals scheduled for Sunday. Their previous meetings during the regular season ended in split victories, with each team defending their home court successfully.
Ethan Price was pivotal for the Cougars, scoring 22 points and collecting five rebounds. Nate Calmese also contributed significantly with 22 points, hitting 9 of his 17 attempted shots, including 3 of 8 from the three-point line, while also providing seven assists.
Rihards Vavers was efficient from both the field and the free-throw line, making 4 out of 5 from long range and all four free-throw attempts, adding 16 points to the scoreboard.
On the side of Loyola Marymount, Myron Amey Jr. led with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jevon Porter chipped in with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Jan Vide rounded out the scoring with 10 points.
Washington State took control of the game early on, gaining the lead just over a minute into play and maintaining it throughout. Price scored 20 points in the first half alone, boosting the Cougars to a 47-39 lead at halftime.
The momentum continued into the second half as Washington State expanded their lead to 58-40, spurred by an 8-0 run. Calmese was instrumental in the second half, leading with 13 points, allowing the team to comfortably secure the win.
