In a thrilling conclusion to their nonconference schedule, the Washington State men's basketball team triumphed over the Mercer Bears with a score of 84-78. This exciting game took place at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman and showcased an impressive performance from the Cougars, who now hold a record of 5-8 for the season. Leading the charge was true freshman Ace Glass, who delivered a standout performance with 24 points.
The first half of this matchup was intense, with both teams exchanging leads frequently—there were eight lead changes and five ties before halftime. The Cougars headed into the locker room with a slim lead of 41-39. However, they came out strong in the second half, launching a decisive 20-9 run within the first nine minutes of play. This burst of scoring was highlighted by an electrifying 8-0 stretch that further extended their advantage just before the 11-minute mark.
In particular, Ace Glass and fellow player Eemeli Yalaho proved to be instrumental in the early stages of the game, combining for a total of 26 points and contributing to nine of the Cougars’ 17 rebounds in the first half. Yalaho wrapped up the game with an impressive double-double—14 points alongside 10 rebounds, marking his third career double-double. The offensive prowess exhibited by Glass and Yalaho opened the door for other players to shine in the second half, particularly Rihards Vavers, who hit three 3-pointers in a quick succession that helped widen WSU's lead.
Additionally, ND Okafor made his mark on the game, adding 10 points to the scoreboard and achieving at least one block for the eighth consecutive game. Tomas Thrastarson also contributed significantly, scoring 10 points and securing a career-high eight rebounds.
While the Cougars faced challenges in the first half—being outscored 3-16 by Mercer’s bench—they rallied impressively in the second half, outpacing the Bears' bench 16-0. Despite allowing a season-high 75 shot attempts from Mercer, the Cougars managed to keep their shooting percentage above 53%, while limiting the Bears to under 45% shooting. Impressively, this victory marks the Cougars' fifth win of the season when they shoot at least 50% from the field.
With the holiday season approaching, the Cougars will take a much-needed break before refocusing on their upcoming West Coast Conference games. They are set to kick off conference play on the road against Portland on Sunday, December 28, with the game slated to begin at 2 p.m. and available for viewing on ESPN+.
