DAVIDSON, N.C. (Interstat) — The Davidson Wildcats used a dominant first-half performance and a balanced scoring attack to hand the Washington State Cougars their second consecutive loss to open the season, winning 85-69 in a nonconference men’s basketball game Friday night at a packed Belk Arena.

A crowd of 2,646 watched as the Wildcats improved to 2-0, while the Cougars fell to 0-2.

Davidson seized control of the game from the opening tip, starting the contest on a 9-0 run. Sam Brown was instrumental in the early surge, scoring six of those points, including a three-pointer assisted by Manie Joses that forced a Washington State timeout less than three minutes into the game.

The Wildcats continued their offensive efficiency throughout the first half, building a 40-24 lead by the intermission. Their defense was equally impactful, converting Washington State turnovers into 22 points, doubling the Cougars’ output of 11 points off turnovers for the game.

Washington State emerged from the locker room with more energy, matching Davidson’s second-half output of 45 points. The Cougars chipped away at the lead, but every time they threatened, the Wildcats had an answer, maintaining a comfortable double-digit cushion for most of the period.

Davidson’s victory was a testament to its depth, with six players scoring at least eight points. Hunter Adam, a 6-foot-7 first-year from Christchurch, New Zealand, led the way with 14 points in just 16 minutes off the bench. Sam Brown, from Merion Station, Pennsylvania, filled the stat sheet with 12 points and four assists, while fellow guard Devin Brown of Lewis Center, Ohio, added 11 points and four assists.

Roberts Blums, a first-year from Riga, Latvia, contributed 10 points, and Parker Friedrichsen of Bixby, Oklahoma, also scored 10. The Wildcats’ interior defense was anchored by Sean Logan, a 6-foot-10 player from Westfield, New Jersey, who recorded five blocks to go with eight points and two assists.

For Washington State, Emmanuel Ugbo, a 6-foot-8 forward from Barendrecht, Netherlands, provided a bright spot, leading all scorers with 16 points. Tomas Thrastarson of Thorlakshofn, Iceland, added nine points, and Parker Gerrits of Olympia, Washington, chipped in seven.

Despite the improved second-half scoring, the Cougars could not overcome their slow start and the Wildcats’ consistent offensive pressure. The teams were even with 26 points each in the paint, and the fast-break battle was nearly identical, with Davidson holding an 11-10 edge.

Davidson, which opened its season with a 97-63 victory over DeSales on Monday, now looks ahead to a crosstown matchup at Charlotte on Tuesday. Washington State, coming off a narrow 83-81 loss to Idaho, will try to secure its first win of the season when it hosts Saint Thomas (Minn.) on Monday.

According to Interstat’s ELO system, Washington State had been projected with a 50.60 percent probability to win, but Davidson entered the game as a 4-point favorite. The total score of 154 fell just under the over/under line of 153.5.