PULLMAN, Wash. - The Cougars will welcome the Vikings of Portland State to tip off the 2024-25 season in Head Coach David Riley's inaugural game at the helm of the WSU program. The game is the second of a Cougar basketball doubleheader, beginning in the afternoon with the WSU women's basketball season opener at 4 p.m. Wazzu has never lost to PSU in 10 meetings dating back to 1973. All but two games have occured at Beasley Coliseum, most recently a 71-61 victory, Dec. 2, 2023.

Isaiah Watts and Parker Gerrits return as the only remaining student-athletes from the 2023-24 roster, which reached the NCAA Tournament Second Round. Watts averaged 10.2 minutes and 3.7 ppg while Gerrits redshirted as a freshman.

Five current WSU players were named the Freshman of the Year for their respective conference prior to arriving at WSU, including Nate Calmese (MVC, Lamar), Cedric Coward (NWC/D-III, Williamette), Dane Erikstrup (CCAA/D-II, Cal Poly- Pomona), Ethan Price (Big Sky, Eastern Washington), and LeJuan Watts (Big Sky, Eastern Washington).

First-year head coach David Riley takes over the Cougar program as the 20th head coach in program history in WSU's 123rd men's basketball season. Riley spent his first three seasons as a head coach at Eastern Washington.

WSU and OSU will play the 2024-25 and 2025-26 seasons as affiliates of the West Coast Conference, as part of a two-year NCAA grace period. Beginning July 1, 2026, the Pac-12 Conference will welcome Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Utah State. The Pac-12 will require one additional fulltime member with a football program prior to 2026-27.