Washington State MBB drops Apple Cup matchup in Washington 89-73

The Washington State men’s basketball team’s winning streak will end at three games after the Cougars lost by a score of 89-73 to Washington on Wednesday in Seattle.

The most turnovers doomed the Cougs in the loss, with WSU committing 22 turnovers compared to seven turnovers for the hosts. Washington scored 24 points off turnovers in this game. Head coach David Riley’s team also shot just 43.1% from the floor and hit six of 20 shots from beyond the three-point line. WSU had a total of 12 assists on 25 made baskets. Riley called it his team’s worst passing play of the year.

“I have to watch the movie. I have to evaluate it again,” Riley said after the game. “I just think it was really disappointing for us not to be able to move the ball the way we needed to before a big game like that.”

Nate Calmese led the Cougs in scoring against his former team, finishing the game with 21 points along with five rebounds and three assists. LeJuan Watts and Ethan Price also scored in double figures with 15 and 16 points, respectively.

The Cougs fall to 9-3 overall after their first real road loss of the year. WSU returns to action on Saturday, December 21st in the Holiday Hoops Classic against a 7-4 Northern Iowa team at 1:00 p.m. Pacific in Las Vegas.

“I think it’s really important for us to have a good game and play the right way over the Christmas break,” Riley noted. “Of course this hurts… we still have a lot to do and in a few days it’s going to be a hell of a game here.”

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