Washington State finally got into the win column Saturday morning, rolling past Northwest 123-87 to pick up its first victory of the season.
The Cougars entered the game at 0-3 and badly needed a reset after a frustrating loss to Duquesne, a game they controlled for most of the afternoon before letting it slip away. They also remained without Ronnie Harrison, who was out again after going down in that Duquesne game. WSU is going to need Harrison back healthy if it wants to be competitive moving forward.
Against Northwest University, a private Christian school in Kirkland with an enrollment of 1,561 students, the matchup came with no betting line because the Eagles compete in NAIA Division 2. WSU handled the assignment early, building a 69-42 lead by halftime and never giving that cushion back.
Sebastian Akins set the tone offensively in the first half, scoring 19 points on 5-for-7 shooting while knocking down three 3-pointers. Washington State was blistering from the floor before the break, shooting 70 percent overall at 24-for-35 and going 16-for-18 at the free throw line. Tyler Kropp added 12 points and was perfect on four shots inside the arc.
There was also a welcome sight for the Cougars with freshman Brayden Kyman making his first appearance of the season. He made an immediate impact defensively on his first possession, and that sequence turned into a transition 3 for WSU.
The size advantage was obvious throughout the first half, and Washington State finished with a 55-24 edge on the glass. Northwest managed to stay afloat at times by hitting a few 3s late in the half, but that was about the only way the Eagles could generate offense.
The second half, though, was much sloppier than the score suggests. Washington State struggled badly with Northwest’s press for the first 10 minutes after the break, and a lack of intensity led to open looks and a string of careless turnovers. The Cougars finished with 19 turnovers.
Jamari Phillips also drew a phantom technical foul after making the “too little” gesture toward his own bench following a basket. And Tyler Kropp exited with a non-contact injury, though he appeared fine as he walked off and later returned to the bench.
Even with the rough edges, six Cougars finished in double figures, and the lopsided lead was enough to get fan favorite Dio Blakely into the game in the closing minutes.
Still, giving up 87 points and 14 made 3-pointers to an NAIA opponent is not the kind of performance David Riley was looking for. Washington State got the win it needed, but it will need a much cleaner effort to beat a Division 1 team.
In Other News...
Washington State's Saturday Build-Up Just Got Caught In A Travel Mess
A nationwide FAA ground stop on Friday evening threw a wrench into the travel plans for several college football teams heading into Week 11, and Washington States opponent was among the programs caught in the mess. Colorado State ended up stranded on the tarmac and even held an impromptu walkthrough outside its plane while waiting for clearance to fly, a reminder of how quickly a routine game-week trip can turn into a scramble.
The Rams still have until Saturday night for their scheduled kickoff against Washington State, so there is time for the trip to get back on track. Even so, any delay adds another layer of uncertainty to a week that is already built around preparation, recovery and getting the details right before a road game. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Gets A Rare Chance To Fix Its Biggest Problem
Washington State enters this matchup with a rare opening to clean up the part of its season that has caused the most frustration. The Cougars are still searching for their first FBS win, and the timing could hardly be better against a Colorado State defense that has been near the bottom of the national rankings in several categories. For a Washington State offense that has struggled to find rhythm and has had to manage injury concerns, this is the kind of game that can either provide a reset or deepen the questions.
Colorado States trip to Pullman was also complicated by travel delays tied to the nationwide FAA flight grounding, adding another layer of uncertainty to a game already carrying plenty of weight for both sides. Washington State does not need style points so much as a cleaner, more complete performance, and the Rams defensive issues give the Cougars a chance to finally show some progress. The challenge now is turning that opportunity into something tangible when the game actually gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Washington State Faces A Must-Take Chance To End Its FBS Skid
Washington State is getting a timely opening this week, with Colorado State dealing with travel delays after a nationwide flight grounding and a defense that has been a problem all season. The Cougars are still searching for their first FBS win, and this matchup gives them a chance to line up against a unit that ranks last nationally in several defensive categories.
For Washington State, the path is obvious enough: find room for quarterback Owen Eshelman and make the Rams pay for every breakdown. The Cougars have not had many clean chances to reset their season, but this one looks like a must-take opportunity to break the skid and build something they can carry forward. [Read more 🡒]