RENO, Nev. (Hayden Wysup) – The Washington State men's basketball team defeated Nevada, 68-57, Monday Night at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada.
Big Picture: Washington State improved to 7-2 and won its first true away game of the season, picking up a Quad 1 win on the first day of the 2024-25 NET release.
Player Performances: Isaiah Watts led the team in scoring with 17 points and five second-half triples.
LeJuan Watts added 13 points, team-high nine rebounds, and matched a career high with six assists.
Nate Calmese added 10 points, eight rebounds, and a career-high seven assists.
Rihards Vavers scored eight points in the first half, making his first appearance since the season-opener.
Between the Lines: While the Cougs had four starters with double digit points and dished out 19 assists, the defense had an even more impressive showing. Fifty seven points is the lowest point total the Cougars have allowed all season and they did so while also holding Nevada to just 39% shooting from the field, 20% from three and forcing 15 turnovers.
Turning Point: With the game tied 13-13 and nine minutes left to play in the first half, Washington State pulled away with an 18-8 run to give Wazzu a lead they held onto for the rest of the game.
Up Next: The Cougars will stay on the road to face another Mountain West foe in Boise State. WSU and BSU are scheduled for tip off Saturday, Dec. 7 at Idaho Central Arena at 2 p.m. MT on CBS.
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WASHINGTON STATE POSTGAME NOTES
- With the result, the Cougars:
- Improve to 7-2 this season
- Improve to 1-0 in true road games
- Improved to 1-0 in anthracite uniforms
- Improve to 4-1 all-time against Nevada and 2-1 against the Wolf Pack in Reno
- Improve to 7-2 when leading at halftime, the Cougs have led at every halftime this season
- Improve to 6-0 when tallying 15+ assists
- WSU held its opponent to a first-half season low 21 points and a Coug opponent-low 57 total points
- The Cougars limited the Wolf Pack to just two second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds
- WSU used the same starters for the third-consecutive game (Price, L. Watts, Calmese, I. Watts, Erikstrup)
- Cedric Coward (left shoulder), Marcus Wilson (left shoulder), and Kase Wynott (concussion) all were out injured
- Four Cougs scored in double figures for the seventh time this season
- Isaiah Watts led the Cougs in scoring for the first time in his career with 17 points
- Watts finished 5-of-6 from 3-point range in the second half, matching a career-high in made triples
- Watts fifth double-digit game as a sophomore and eighth career 10-point game
- Tomas Thrastarson played a career-high 22 minutes, grabbing a career-high four rebounds, three assists, and two steals
- Thrastarson also matched a career-high with three points on a made 3-pointer
- Nate Calmese dished out a career-high seven assists and matched a career-high with eight rebounds
- Calmese scored 10 points for the eighth time this season
- LeJuan scored 13 points, eclipsing double-digit scoring for the eighth time in his first nine games
- Watts matched a career-high with six assists and grabbed a team-high nine rebounds
- Ethan Price scored 10 points for his sixth double-digit game as a Coug (64th in D-I career)
- Parker Gerrits made his first career field goal, scoring his first career points in the second half
- Rihards Vavers returned from a left-hand injury for the first time since the season opener
- Vavers scored a season-high eight points, finishing 2-of-3 from beyond the arc
- Vavers set a season-high going 2-of-2 from the free throw line
- Vavers exited the game in the first half after re-aggravating his left hand injury
