EASTERN WASHINGTON EAGLES (1-3) vs WASHINGTON STATE COUGARS (4-1)
Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024
6:32 p.m. PT (9:32 p.m. ET)
Spokane, Wash.
Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena
Capacity: 12,638

Cougar Radio Network
KXLY 920AM // KHTR 104.3FM
KTTH 770AM // KONA 610AM
Play-by-Play: Derek Deis
Analyst: Craig Ehlo

Television & Streaming
SWX
Play-by-Play: Austin Getz
Analyst: Stephen Madison
Producer: Chad Simmons

Opening Tips
1. WSU tips off against the Eastern Washington Eagles at Spokane Arena, Thursday, Nov. 21, for Numerica Holiday Hoops 2024. The schools, separated by approximately 70 miles, first met in January 1907, a 16-10 win for Washington State College over Cheney Normal College. WSU holds the all-time edge with a 58-13 record, while Riley twice beat the Cougars as the coach at EWU in three seasons.

2. In Monday's win over Northern Colorado, the Cougars shot 71.4% from 2-point range, the highest single-game 2-point percentage by a Wazzu team since WSU shot 74.3% from inside the arc against Saint Mary's, Nov. 24, 2017.

3. Cedric Coward scored 30 points in Monday's win over Northern Colorado, matching a D-I career-high, and become the first 30-point performance by a Coug since Myles Rice scored 35 points at Stanford, Jan. 18, 2024.

4. LeJuan Watts has recorded three double-doubles this season, most recently against Iowa, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore transfer has scored 10+ points every game as a Coug.

5. The Cougs have six players averaging double figures with all five starters plus sixth-man Isaiah Watts.

LAST TIME OUT
The Washington State men's basketball team defeated Northern Colorado, 83-69, Monday night, at Beasley Coliseum. Cedric Coward led the game in scoring with a WSU career-high 30 points. Dane Erikstrup had 14 points. LeJuan Watts added 11 points with eight rebounds, and Isaiah Watts had 12 points with four 3-pointers off the bench.

CALMESE SETS SEASON-HIGH
Nate Calmese scored a season-high 27 points, Nov. 15 against Iowa, his first 20-point performance since Feb. 25, 2023 as a freshman at Lamar. The junior transfer scored in double figures  in his first four games as a Coug.

PICK YOUR POISON
The Cougars have distributed scoring across the majority of the playing rotation with six Cougars averaging 10+ points through five games. At least four Cougs have scored in double figures in four of the first five games, while three individuals have tallied 20-point performances.

WINNING ON THE GLASS
Washington State has outrebounded its opponent in every game this season. The Cougs hold a +9.0 rebounding margin, which ranks 68th nationally and third in the WCC.

CALMESE QUICKNESS
Junior Nate Calmese scored a season-high 27 points against Iowa, becoming the third Coug this season with a 20-point game. The Arizona native has tallied 13 steals and led the team in takeaways in all five games. Calmese ranks 12th nationally in steals, and leads the WCC. Calmese finished with 12 made field goals in the loss to the Hawkeyes, the first Coug with 10+ field goals since current Sacramento King's forward Isaac Jones dropped 10 buckets on Washington, Feb. 3, in Seattle.

'JUAN, TWO, THREE DOUBLE-DOUBLES
LeJuan Watts recorded his third double-double in Friday's loss to Iowa, scoring 11 points with a game-high 10 rebounds. The sophomore transfer from EWU has scored in double figures in all five games as a Coug and is averaging a team-best 9.4 rebounds per game. With 47 total rebounds, LeJuan ranks 15th nationally in total boards, and leads the WCC. LeJuan eclipsed 200 career rebounds in Monday's win over Northern Colorado, sitting at 204 total through 37 career games.

SIXTH SHOOTER 'ZAY
Isaiah Watts, the only returning letterwinner from the 2023-24 roster, scored a career high 20 points in the season-opening win over Portland State, finishing a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line and 4-of-5 from 3-point range in a career high 28 minutes. Since then, Isaiah has established his role as the spark off the bench, scoring 10+ points in four of the first five games, grabbing 4.2 rebounds per game.

ERIKSTRUP DEFENDS THE RIM
Senior Dane Erikstrup became the second-straight Coug to block five shots in a game, swatting away five attempts against Northern Colorado, Nov. 18. Erikstrup leads the team with nine blocks this season.

FRESHMAN PHENOMS COLLIDE
Five current WSU players were named the Freshman of the Year for their respective conference prior to arriving at WSU, including Nate Calmese (Southland), Cedric Coward (NWC/D-III), Dane Erikstrup (CCAA/D-II), Ethan Price (Big Sky), and LeJuan Watts (Big Sky).

UP NEXT
WSU's second neutral-site game of the season will be against Fresno State in the Acrisure Holiday Invitational. The Cougars last faced the Bulldogs in 2012 at Beasley Coliseum and have not lost to Fresno State since 2003 in Fresno, California. Current WSU student-athletes Cedric Coward and LeJuan Watts both grew up in Fresno as fans of the Bulldogs. Fresno State is scheduled to join the Pac-12 in 2026-27 and will compete against WSU as a conference member. Coach Riley has faced Fresno State just once, a loss in the 2022 NIT.

COWARD CLAMP DOWN
Coward rejected a career-high five shots in the Cougs' win over Idaho, Nov. 11, the most by a Coug since Dishon Jackson had five blocks against Cal in the Pac-12 Tournament, March 9, 2022. WSU eclipsed 10 team blocks in the win for the first time since blocking 10 shots against Portland State last season, Dec. 2, 2023 in Pullman.

NATE APPROACHES TRIPLE DIGITS
Nate Calmese started his 52nd career game Monday night, reaching 100 career rebounds. The junior is seeking two other century milestones, including 100 career assists and 100 career free throws. Calmese is currently at 99 free throws made and 92 assists.

OKAFOR BACK ON THE FLOOR
Junior ND Okafor, a transfer from California, played his first minutes as a Coug in the Nov. 11 win over Idaho. Okafor missed the first two games due to concussion protocol. In his Cougar debut, Okafor delivered a career-high 12 points, with six rebounds, a block, and a steal. In last Friday night's game against Iowa, Okafor pulled in five boards to eclipse 100 career rebounds.

PRICE DELIVERS 200 DIMES
Senior Ethan Price delivered two assists in the Nov. 15 game against Iowa, surpassing 200 career assists in his college career.

WYNOTT DEBUT
True freshman Kase Wynott, a native of Winchester, Idaho, and Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year for Lapwai High School last year, made his home debut at Friel Court in the win over Northern Colorado, finishing with two rebounds and his first-career steal.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE THREAT
Head Coach David Riley has describe LeJuan Watts as a consistent threat for a recording a triple-double. The sophomore standout got the closest he's been as a Coug with five assists in Monday's win over Northern Colorado. Watts has tallied three double-doubles and four double-digit rebounding games so far.

THE CENTURY MARK
When the Cougs defeated Portland State, 100-92, the Cougars eclipsed 100 points for the first time since beating Oregon State, 103-97 in overtime, Feb. 28, 2022, in Corvallis, Ore. It marked the first triple-digit performance at Beasley Coliseum since beating CSUN, 103-94, Nov. 27, 2018. WSU scored 100 points in regulation for the first time since beating Idaho 109-61, Nov. 18, 2021 in Moscow, Idaho.

COWARDS EARNS PRESEASON ALL-WCC
WSU senior transfer Cedric Coward was named to the Preseason All-WCC Team. The EWU transfer started strong with a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double in the Cougs' season opener and has led the Cougars in scoring in both games to start the year.

COUGS PICKED FIFTH IN WCC
Entering the 2024-25 season as an affiliate member of the WCC, Wazzu was selected fifth in the preseason coaches poll. The last time a David Riley team was selected fifth in the preseason conference poll, at EWU in 2022-23, his team rattled off an 18-game unbeaten streak on the way to a Big Sky Conference regular season championship.