Cougs fall short against Eastern Washington, 76-71

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Mason Landdeck came off the bench to score 18 of his 24 points in the second half, making four free throws in the final 16 seconds, as Eastern Washington rallied to beat Washington State for the first time, 76-71 on Saturday.

The Eagles (3-3) trailed 40-28 at halftime after shooting 42% overall but making only 2 of 10 from beyond the arc. The second half was a different story as EWU shot 50% from inside and outside the arc. 

Steele Venters sank a 3-pointer coming out of intermission and Rylan Bergersen hit from distance to cap a 10-0 run and get Eastern within 40-38. Landdeck buried a 3 to put the Eagles on top 48-47 with 12:27 remaining. The Cougars (5-1) knotted the score at 65 on a 3-pointer by Michael Flowers with 2:49 left to play, but Bergersen answered with a three-point play and EWU stayed in front from there.

Ethan Price had 12 points for the Eagles, while Bergersen and Angelo Allegri scored 10 each.

Tyrell Roberts scored 23 points to pace the Cougars. He had 11 in the first half and 12 in the second before fouling out in the final minutes of the contest. Flowers added 21 points and nine rebounds. He would finish the game with five three-pointers, a season high for the senior.

The Cougs were without top scorer scorer Noah Williams and sixth-man TJ Bamba who each missed the game due to injury. The game was the first missed for Williams in exactly two years. He last missed a game Nov. 27, 2019 against Colorado State.

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