Washington State Cougars Edge Past Bulldogs in a Close Encounter
In a tightly contested matchup, the Washington State Cougars emerged victorious with a score of 66-61 over the Bulldogs. The Cougars now stand at an impressive 25th rank with this latest victory, while the Bulldogs remain unranked. Both teams fought hard, but it was the Cougars who managed to secure more points by the final buzzer.
The game was characterized by several lead changes and times when the score was tied, indicating how competitive the encounter was. The Washington State Cougars showcased their defensive skills with four blocks and five steals throughout the game. Their offense also clicked at crucial moments, especially from beyond the arc where they shot an impressive 50 percent.
The team's ability to capitalize on turnovers played a significant role in their win; they scored 11 points off turnovers compared to eight by their opponents. Moreover, Washington State's fast break execution proved lethal as they outscored Drake with 16 fast break points.
Rebounding was another area where Washington State excelled; they pulled down 40 rebounds including a significant number of offensive boards which led to 13 second-chance points. This effort on glass provided them with additional scoring opportunities that were pivotal in maintaining their lead.
On offense, free throws were critical for Washington State as they converted them at an excellent rate of 77 percent which contributed significantly to their total tally of points. Their overall field goal percentage stood at 38 percent despite struggling inside with just a 34 percent success rate on two-point attempts.
The Bulldogs put up a resilient fight and were not far behind in many statistical categories. They had three blocks and seven steals showing tenacity on defense as well as dishing out more assists than Washington State (18). However, Drake struggled from the free-throw line making only six out of fourteen attempts which translated into just a mere 43 percent completion rate.
Drake also had difficulty containing Washington State's three-point shooters who made seven shots from downtown compared to five by Drake themselves who shot at only one-third efficiency from that range.
Looking ahead for fans of Washington State Cougars is another exciting game scheduled against Iowa State Cyclones at CHI Health Center Omaha on March 23rd at around 5:10 PM CT. This upcoming match can be watched live on TNT for those eager to follow WSU's journey through this season’s competition.