Wazzu Downs Eagles in 96-81 Victory at Spokane Arena

Thursday, November 21

Spokane, Wash.

6:30 p.m.

Washington State University

5-1,0-0WCC

Eastern Washington

1-4,0-0Big Sky

Eastern Wash.

Washington St.

Photo by: Emma Decasa

November 21, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Game Highlights David Riley Postgame Coward/Erikstrup Postgame Box Score (PDF)WSU Postgame Notes

By: WSU Athletic Comm., Hayden Wysup

Spokane, Wash. (Hayden Wysup) -- The Washington State men's basketball team defeated Eastern Washington 96-81.

Big Picture: Washington State moved to 5-1 and David Riley took down his former team in their first matchup.

Player Performances: Dane Erikstrup had a season high 24 points, along with three rebounds and two steals. Cedric Coward had his third game with at least 20 points, with 22 on 7-12 shooting. Isaiah Watts also had a career high of 22 points with four triples, five assists and three steals.

Between the Lines: Wazzu had their best game of the season from beyond the arc. The Cougars hit a season high 16 triples at a 53% clip. Along with their success from three Washington State dished out 24 assists, their most in a game since dishing 27 against CSUN, Nov. 27, 2018.

Turning point: Near the mid-way point in the first half the Cougars offense caught fire, Erikstrup nailed three triples to help spark a 32-8 run gave them a 46-23 lead that they held onto for the rest of the game.

WASHINGTON STATE POSTGAME NOTES

With the result, the Cougars:
- Improve to 5-1 this season
- Improve to 1-1 at neutral sites
- Improve to 5-0 in white uniforms
- Improve 59-13 all-time against Eastern Washington
- Improve to 21-19 all-time at Spokane Arena dating back to 1995
- Improve to 5-1 when leading at halftime
- Improve to 5-0 when delivering 15+ assists
- Improve to 4-0 when shooting over 50% from the floor
- Improve to 5-0 when scoring 80+ points
WSU has used the same starting lineup every game this season
Three Cougars scored 20+ points for the first time since Josh Hawkinson (26), Ike Iroegbu (20), and DaVonte Lacy (24) all eclipsed 20 points in a win over Oregon, Jan. 15, 2015
WSU tallied 24 assists, the most by a Coug team since dishing 27 assists against CSUN, Nov. 27, 2018
- First 20-assist game since hosting Grambling State at Pullman Dec. 10, 2023
The Cougars made 16 three-pointers, the most in a single-game since setting the school record with 18 made triples against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 25, 2022
Dane Erikstrup set a WSU career high with 24 points for his fifth double-digit performance this year
- Erikstrup became the fourth Coug this year with a 20-point game (sixth career)
- Erikstrup scored 20+ points for the first time since scoring 24 in a win with EWU at Sacramento State, March 4, 2024
- Erikstrup grabbed eight rebounds, setting a WSU career high and tallying his most rebounds since pulling down a career-high 11 rebounds as an Eagle against Portland Bible, Dec. 13, 2023
Isaiah Watts set a career-high with 22 points, his second 20-point game of his career
- Watts also distributed a career-high five assists
- Watts set a career-high with three steals
- Watts finished 6-of-8 from the free throw line, matching a career-high makes and setting a career high attempts
- Watts finished 4-of-7 from 3-point range, matching a season-high makes and a career-high attempts
Cedric Coward scored 22 points, for his fourth double-digit game this season and 35th career
- Coward has eclipsed 20 points three times this season
- Coward set a WSU career-high with five assists, his most since dishing five assists with EWU against North Dakota State, Jan. 6, 2024
Nate Calmese scored 19 points for the fifth time in his first six games
Parker Gerrits set a career high with two assists
- Gerrits set a career high with two rebounds
LeJuan Watts matched a WSU career-high with five assists, his second consecutive 5-assist game
WSU has outrebounded every opponent this season