The Cougars Stick Tight with Trojans Until the Final Whistle
LOS ANGELES – In a determined display of skill and resilience, the Washington State men's basketball team (3-8) fought hard on the road this Sunday but ultimately fell short in a 68-61 defeat against Southern California at the Galen Center.
Despite facing a seven-point deficit at halftime, the Cougars rallied impressively, narrowing the gap to just one point during the second half. Throughout the game, they kept the pressure on their opponents, hitting nine shots from beyond the arc while effectively limiting USC's three-point attempts to a mere 1-of-13 shooting.
Leading the charge for Washington State was Rihards Vavers, who showcased his scoring prowess with 13 points, connecting on 5-of-8 attempts. Not far behind him, both Jerone Morton and Eemeli Yalaho contributed significantly, each adding 10 points to the scoreboard.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing; the Cougars found themselves in foul trouble for a considerable portion of the matchup. This situation allowed USC to take advantage, sending them to the free-throw line a staggering 34 times, where the Trojans capitalized by converting 27 of those opportunities. Nonetheless, Washington State managed to close the distance, thanks in large part to timely three-point shooting from Vavers, Emmanuel Ugbo, and Tomas Thrastarson. At one point, they trimmed the margin to 42-38 following a crucial three-pointer from Ugbo with 15:38 left in the game.
Ugbo finished the night with six points and pulled down six rebounds, while ND Okafor added depth with eight points and four rebounds of his own. Impressively, the Cougars demonstrated strong ball control after halftime, committing only two turnovers.
Looking ahead, the Cougars will continue their nonconference schedule on Wednesday, December 17, at Numerica Veterans Arena in Spokane, Washington, as part of the 509 Classic. They will face off against Eastern Washington in what promises to be an exciting neutral-site showdown at 7 p.m., which will be broadcast on SWX. Fans can purchase tickets through TicketsWest.
