Cougars Claw Past Eagles with Dominant Paint Performance

The Washington State Cougars improved their record to 1-0 after a decisive victory over the Eastern Washington Eagles, who now stand at 0-1. The final score read 78-63 in favor of the Cougs, showcasing their dominance on both ends of the court.

First Half

The game tipped off at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, and from the onset, it was clear that Wazzu was determined to set the pace. The first half saw them take a commanding lead with a score of 45-31. A key factor in this early advantage was their efficiency inside the paint, where they scored an impressive 44 points throughout the game. Emmanuel Ugbo led this charge with his remarkable shooting accuracy, converting 67 percent of his field goals.

Second Half

As play resumed in the second half, Eastern Washington attempted to mount a comeback but struggled against Wazzu's defensive pressure. The Cougs' defense forced numerous turnovers and capitalized on fast-break opportunities, adding another 15 points from quick transitions. Ace Glass contributed significantly with his all-around performance—scoring 14 points and providing five assists—helping maintain their lead.

Despite Eastern Washington's efforts to close the gap by scoring consistently through free throws at a rate of 67 percent accuracy and making strategic plays for second-chance points (5), they couldn't overcome Wazzu's robust defense led by ND Okafor’s three blocks.

Final Outcome

In what turned out to be an assertive display by Washington State University’s team, they closed out any potential threat from Eastern Washington comfortably. This victory not only marked an excellent start for them but also highlighted areas such as bench strength where players like Rihards Vavers added depth with seven rebounds contributing towards total team rebounds tallying up to forty-one compared against thirty by Eagles.

Looking ahead after this successful outing against EWU; fans can catch "Washington State Cougars vs Mercer Bears" scheduled on December twentieth at Beasley Coliseum located within Pullman city limits starting five PM EST broadcasted live via ESPN+.

Stay tuned for more updates! Share your thoughts about how you think these teams will fare moving forward!