Washington State Basketball: Cougars Fall to Loyola Marymount in Heartbreaking Fashion
Once again, the Washington State Cougars were unable to protect a halftime advantage, experiencing a complete collapse in the second half. In a crucial game that could have secured a coveted four seed, they were outscored 43-27 by the Loyola Marymount Lions, resulting in a gut-wrenching 67-66 loss. This defeat effectively eliminates WSU’s chances of an automatic bid to the WCC tournament quarterfinals.
For those unfamiliar with the narrative of this year’s Washington State team (12-18 overall, 7-10 in conference), this game perfectly encapsulates their season – particularly their struggles on the road. While not consistently poor, the Cougars have demonstrated a stark difference in performance between home and away games.
Home vs. Away: A Tale of Two Teams
Barttorvik.com provides insightful data illustrating this disparity. At home, WSU performs like a top 100 team according to his metrics. However, away from the familiar surroundings of Beasley Coliseum (including true road games and neutral sites), their ranking drops to around 175th. Tonight’s game served as a painful confirmation of this trend.
Despite a less-than-stellar first half, WSU managed to build a 15-point lead at the break. Nine first-half turnovers didn’t prove costly, as the Lions struggled offensively, missing all 10 of their three-point attempts and shooting just 28.6% from the field. The Cougars, meanwhile, found their rhythm, with Rihards Vavers leading the charge with three early three-pointers, contributing to a 7-for-13 performance from beyond the arc.
Second-Half Collapse
However, the script flipped dramatically in the second half. The Lions opened with a blistering 17-4 run, narrowing the gap to just two points – the closest they had been since the 15:23 mark of the first half. Myron Amey Jr. ignited the Lions’ comeback, scoring 13 of those initial 17 points.
WSU’s offense sputtered in response. While they briefly extended their lead to six on a couple of occasions, most of their possessions yielded nothing. They missed their first three three-point attempts and committed eight turnovers in the second half. A noticeable shift in composure and energy became apparent as the Lions chipped away at the deficit.
Turnovers were met with frustration and disagreement among WSU players, while the Lions celebrated every successful play. The Cougars were, once again, imploding. The Lions finally seized the lead with a pair of free throws with 1:32 remaining.
Final Moments and Looking Ahead
Trailing by three, WSU had a chance to tie the game with a Vavers three-point attempt with nine seconds left, but it missed. Loyola Marymount sealed the victory with a banked free throw from Rick Issanza. A late three-pointer by Ace Glass brought the score within one, but only 0.2 seconds remained on the clock.
Given the game’s inherent unpredictability, a loss wasn’t entirely unexpected. However, surrendering a 15-point halftime lead is a familiar and disheartening pattern for this Cougars team.
WSU will conclude their regular season with a road game at Pepperdine on Saturday before heading into the WCC tournament next week. They’ll need to find a way to overcome their road struggles if they hope to make a significant impact in the tournament. You can find more information about the WCC tournament here.
