The Cougars kept it close in the first half, but a 16-2 run from Saint Mary’s to open the second half helped seal their defeat, in a 77-56 loss Saturday.

The game began competitively, with WSU trailing by just four points at halftime, 38-34. However, the second half proved challenging for the Cougars.

Offensively, WSU struggled against the Gaels’ defense, shooting only 41% from the field. The Cougars committed 16 turnovers, which Saint Mary’s converted into 22 points. Additionally, the Gaels secured 13 offensive rebounds, leading to 18 second-chance points.

“They have a couple of elite rim-protecting bigs,” said WSU head coach David Riley. “You give a team like that uncontested layups and uncontested shots at the rim, that’s where it can hurt you.”

LeJuan Watts was the standout performer for WSU, contributing 17 points. Isaiah Watts added 12 points, and Ethan Price chipped in 11.

Saint Mary’s showcased a balanced offensive attack, with Paulius Murauskas leading all scorers with 30 points. Augustas Marciulionis added 16 points, and Jordan Ross contributed 12 points. The Gaels’ defense was also formidable, effectively containing WSU’s top scorers and capitalizing on the Cougars’ mistakes.

This loss underscores the challenges WSU faces as they aim to improve their conference standing. The Cougars will need to address their offensive inefficiencies and defensive lapses to enhance their performance in upcoming games. They remain in seventh place in the West Coast Conference, and risk missing a first-round bye in the WCC tournament this March.

The Cougs schedule does not get any easier from here, as they return home to face Gonzaga on Wednesday.