Preview of Saturday’s Portland-Washington State Men’s Basketball Game

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — Two teams with identical records seeking momentum for the season’s final stretch will meet Saturday when the Portland Pilots face the Washington State Cougars in a nonconference men’s basketball game organized by the West Coast.

The matchup at Beasley Coliseum features a pair of 10-13 squads looking to build on recent results. Tipoff is set for Jan. 31, 2026.

Washington State enters with some confidence after a 70-58 home victory over Seattle on Wednesday. The Cougars were led by a career-high 24 points from sophomore forward Rihards Vavers, who has averaged 16.8 points over his last four games. Vavers’ scoring surge has provided a critical boost for a Cougars team that has won three of its last five.

Portland aims to rebound from a difficult 74-51 road loss at Pacific on Wednesday. The Pilots have lost three of their last four, with their lone win in that span a 71-58 victory at Loyola Marymount on Jan. 17.

A player to watch for Portland is guard Dante Censori-Hercules. He logged a season-high 30 minutes and contributed 7 points and 2 assists in the loss to Pacific. His role has expanded recently, averaging over 23 minutes per game in Portland’s last four contests.

This game is a quick rematch of a Dec. 28 meeting in Portland, which Washington State won 67-62. In that game, the Cougars held the Pilots to 36.2% shooting from the field.

Both teams face challenging conference schedules ahead. Portland begins a key February stretch hosting Gonzaga next Wednesday. Washington State opens a two-game road trip at Oregon State on Wednesday.

Saturday’s contest offers a final opportunity for both programs to secure a nonconference victory and enter the pivotal month of February on a positive note.