In a heartbreaker for the Washington State Cougars, their struggles on the road continued as they squandered a halftime lead and fell to the Loyola Marymount Lions, 67-66. This defeat dashed their hopes of securing a coveted four seed in the WCC tournament quarterfinals.
If you've been following the Cougars this season, this game was a microcosm of their road woes. While they’ve shown flashes of brilliance at home, where metrics suggest they play like a top 100 team, their performance away from Beasley Coliseum tells a different story. On the road, they rank around 175th, and tonight was a testament to that disparity.
Despite a shaky first half, the Cougars managed to build a 15-point lead at the break. They turned the ball over nine times, yet the Lions couldn't capitalize, missing all 10 of their three-point attempts and shooting just 28.6% from the field. When WSU wasn’t giving away possessions, they were efficient, with Rihards Vavers leading the charge, hitting three of the team’s seven first-half three-pointers.
But the second half saw a dramatic shift. The Lions came roaring back with a 17-4 run, fueled by Myron Amey Jr., who scored 13 of those points. The Cougars' offense faltered, struggling to respond as they missed their first three three-point attempts and committed eight turnovers.
The difference in composure was palpable. As the lead slipped away, WSU's frustration grew evident with miscommunications and turnovers, while the Lions capitalized on every opportunity. The turning point came with just over a minute left when LMU took the lead on a pair of free throws.
Trailing by three, the Cougars had a chance to tie the game with nine seconds left, but Vavers' three-point attempt fell short. LMU sealed the win with a free throw, and although Ace Glass banked in a three-pointer at the buzzer, it was too little, too late.
This game was always going to be a tight contest, but blowing a 15-point halftime lead underscores the Cougars' inconsistency on the road. They'll look to regroup in their final regular-season game at Pepperdine before heading into the WCC tournament.