Loyola Marymount vs Washington State Prediction 1/2/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Loyola Marymount Lions and the Washington State Cougars will meet on Friday evening in a West Coast Conference matchup at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Washington

Washington State Cougars Betting Preview

The Washington State Cougars enter Friday night’s contest with a 6–9 overall record, including a 3–3 mark at home and a 1–1 record in WCC play. The Cougars have earned wins over Portland, Eastern Washington, Portland and Mercer, while losing games to the USC Trojans and Nevada Wolfpack. More recently, in the Washington State Cougars 67–62 road win over the Portland Pilots, Washington State forward Rihards Vavers tallied 13 points (3 of 5 shooting from three-point range), 3 rebounds and 2 steals.

Washington State averages 73 points on 44.7 percent shooting from the field and 32.9 percent shooting from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Cougars allow 75.1 points per contest.

Freshman guard Ace Glass leads the Washington State Cougars with 15.4 points on 45.6 percent shooting from the field per game. Sophomore guard Tomas Thrastarson averages 9.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.1 assists per contest. Junior forward ND Okafor has provided the Cougars consistent scoring and rebounding averaging 9.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.  

Loyola Marymount Lions Betting Preview

The Loyola Marymount Lions enter Tuesday night’s contest with a 10–5 win-loss record, including a 4–3 record at home. The Lions have amassed wins over Lincoln, Eastern Washington, Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, UTEP, Troy, UC Santa Barbara, and Ohio, while losing games to Florida Atlantic, Stony Brook, Saint Louis, and UC San Diego. In the Loyola Marymount’s 70-58 victory over the Ohio Bobcats last month, Loyola Marymount forward Aaron McBride tallied 14 points (6 of 6 shooting from the field), 8 rebounds and 4 steals showcasing his ability to lead the Lions backcourt.  

The Loyola Marymount Lions average 74.6 points on 45.8 percent shooting from the field and 37.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Lions are allowing opponents 68.1 points per game which ranks 49th in the country.

Senior guard Myron Amey Jr. leads the Loyola Marymount Lions averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1 steal per game. Junior guard Rodney Brown Jr. averages 15.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 2 assists and 0.7 steals per contest, while junior guard Jan Vide contributes 12.8 points and 5.1 assists per game. Sophomore forward Jalen Shelley provides a strong presence in the paint averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1 steal a contest.  

Why the Washington State Cougars will win

•             Guard play. Freshman guard Ace Glass leads the Washington State Cougars with 15.4 points on 45.6 percent shooting from the field per game.

•             Home court steadiness. The Cougars are 3–3 at home, and Beasley Coliseum has historically been a difficult venue for visiting teams.

•             Balanced scoring. Ace Glass and Tomas Thrastarson combine for over 25 points per contest.

Why the Loyola Marymount Lions will win

•             Ability to win on the road. The Loyola Marymount Lions are 3-0 on the road this season.

•             Star guard play. Myron Amey Jr. and Jan Vide combine for over 28 points per game.

•             Quality defense. The Lions allow just 68.1 points per game which ranks 48th in the nation.

Washington State vs. Loyola Marymount Prediction

This matchup features Loyola Marymount’s perimeter shooting and rebounding strength against a Washington State team that relies on offensive efficiency and home court advantage. Look for the Lions to lean on Myron Amey Jr.’s perimeter scoring and Jalen Shelley’s interior presence, while the Cougars will counter with Ace Glass’s shot creation.

Loyola Marymount has been competitive in stretches, but their defensive profile and three‑point volume present a difficult matchup for a Washington State team that has struggled to close tight games and allows nearly as many points as it scores. If Loyola Marymount maintains its defensive discipline the Lions should be able to keep this game relatively close and could potentially win this game outright. With that said, I am backing the Lions plus the 1.5 points.  

Hans Geevers's Pick: Loyola Marymount +1.5