Preview: Pepperdine Waves at Washington State Cougars

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to halt extended slides will meet Saturday when the Pepperdine Waves visit the Washington State Cougars in a non-conference men’s basketball game at Beasley Coliseum.

The matchup, organized by the West Coast, pits struggling squads with nearly identical recent fortunes. Pepperdine (6-15) enters on a three-game losing streak, most recently falling 84-60 at Gonzaga on Wednesday. Washington State (8-13) has dropped four straight, including a 96-92 road loss at San Diego on Jan. 21.

The game will feature a compelling backcourt duel between two of the region’s top scorers. Pepperdine’s hopes rest heavily on sophomore guard Styles Phipps, who has averaged 15.4 points over his last eight games. He is coming off a 13-point effort against Gonzaga and has scored 16 or more in three of his last five outings.

Washington State will counter with dynamic junior guard Ace Glass III, who is in the midst of a torrid scoring stretch. Glass poured in a season-high 29 points in the loss to San Diego and has averaged 21.6 points over his last five games, showcasing an ability to carry the Cougars’ offense.

Both teams have struggled defensively during their respective skids. Pepperdine has allowed 80 or more points in four of its last five losses, while Washington State has conceded an average of 88.8 points during its four-game losing streak. The Cougars’ last win was an 81-67 victory over Oregon State on Jan. 4.

For Pepperdine, finding secondary scoring behind Phipps will be crucial. Danilo Dozic and Pavle Stosic provided limited support against Gonzaga. Washington State, meanwhile, will look for production beyond Glass after ND Okafor (21 points) and Rihards Vavers (16 points) aided the effort at San Diego.

The game marks a rare meeting between the programs and is part of a two-game series, with the Cougars scheduled to visit Malibu, California, on Feb. 28. Tipoff is set for Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026.