NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — In a nonconference men’s basketball game defined by razor-thin margins and a frantic final minute, Washington State edged Loyola Marymount 78-76 on Friday night at Beasley Coliseum.

The contest, part of the West Coast Classic, saw neither team lead by more than eight points and featured 12 ties and 15 lead changes. The decisive sequence unfolded in the final 10 seconds with the score knotted at 76.

After Loyola Marymount’s Jan Vide missed a floating jumper with five seconds remaining, Washington State’s ND Okafor secured the defensive rebound. The Cougars immediately pushed the ball upcourt, where guard Ace Glass III drove the lane and converted a contested layup while being fouled with 0.6 seconds on the clock. Glass made the ensuing free throw to provide the final margin. The Lions’ desperation full-court inbound pass was intercepted, sealing the home victory before an announced crowd of 2,580.

The game was a showcase for individual talent, particularly Loyola Marymount’s Jan Vide. The sophomore from Slovenia poured in a game-high 28 points, including 18 in the second half, to keep the Lions in contention. He added three assists and two steals in 35 minutes. His backcourt mate, Jalen Shelley, contributed 15 points and four assists.

Washington State countered with a more balanced and efficient offensive attack. Four Cougars scored in double figures, led by Rihards Vavers’ 17 points, all of which came from behind the three-point line or the free-throw line. Jerone Morton added 15 points, while Glass finished with 16 points and five assists. The most impactful performance, however, came from the interior, where ND Okafor of Ireland dominated with 14 points, four blocked shots and a game-high 11 defensive rebounds, anchoring the Cougars’ defense.

The first half set the tone for the nail-biter. Loyola Marymount raced to an early 11-2 lead behind Vide and Shelley, forcing a quick Washington State timeout. The Cougars responded with a 19-7 run, fueled by three-pointers from Vavers, to take a 21-18 advantage. The teams traded blows for the remainder of the half, with Washington State taking a narrow 34-32 lead into the break.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Loyola Marymount would draw even or take a slight lead, only for Washington State to answer, often through Okafor in the paint or Vavers from the perimeter. A key stretch came with just over seven minutes left when Okafor blocked consecutive shots by Aaron McBride and Jalen Shelley on the same possession, leading to a transition bucket that gave the Cougars a 62-60 edge they would not fully relinquish.

Loyola Marymount’s resilience was on full display in the final two minutes. Trailing 72-68, the Lions scored eight of the next 10 points. Rodney Brown, who had 12 points, hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:08 left to cut the deficit to 73-72. After a Washington State free throw, Vide was fouled on a drive and calmly sank two free throws with 26 seconds left to tie the game at 75. Okafor then put the Cougars back ahead with a layup, only for Brown to be fouled on the ensuing possession and make one of two free throws, setting the stage for the final dramatic possession and Glass’s game-winning and-one play.

With the victory, Washington State improves to 7-9 on the season. Loyola Marymount, which had won four of its last five games entering the contest, falls to 10-6. The Cougars will host Oregon State on Sunday. The Lions continue their road trip at Gonzaga on Sunday.