PARADISE, Nev. — In a thrilling Saturday evening at the West Coast Conference Tournament, the sixth-seeded Washington State Cougars claimed a 94-77 victory over Loyola Marymount, the seventh seed. The standout performance came from Ethan Price, who poured in 22 points to lead his team to success. As a reward for their triumph, Washington State is set to face the third-seeded San Francisco in the quarterfinals on Sunday. The two teams have a well-matched history this season, having split their regular-season meetings, with each team triumphing on its home court.
Price’s contribution wasn’t limited to scoring, as he also snagged five rebounds for the Cougars (19-13). His efforts were complemented by Nate Calmese, who also recorded 22 points. Calmese showcased his shooting skills by going 9 for 17, including 3 of 8 from three-point range, and provided seven assists. Rihards Vavers offered additional support during the match, hitting four of five from beyond the arc and remaining flawless from the free-throw line to tally 16 points.
The opposition, Loyola Marymount (17-15), was led by Myron Amey Jr., who posted 16 points and eight rebounds. Jevon Porter added to the effort, finishing with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two steals. Another notable contributor was Jan Vide, who chipped in with 10 points.
Washington State set the tone early, taking an assertive lead just over a minute into the game and maintaining it throughout. Their momentum was largely fueled by Price, who scored 20 points in the first half alone, helping the Cougars reach a halftime advantage of 47-39. During the second half, Washington State strengthened their control, advancing their lead to 58-40 through a decisive 8-0 scoring surge. Calmese dominated the later stages with a team-high 13 points in the second half to ensure the victory for his team.
