PULLMAN, Wash. (Interstat) — Ace Glass III scored 24 points to guide Washington State to an 84-78 men’s basketball victory over Mercer on Saturday at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars improved to 5-8, while the Bears fell to 7-5. Washington State led 41-39 at halftime and maintained a narrow edge throughout the second half. Mercer’s Baraka Okojie matched Glass with 24 points. The Cougars’ Eemeli Yalaho added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Mercer’s Armani Mighty had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Washington State sealed the game at the free-throw line in the final minute. An announced crowd of 2,374 watched the contest.

NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — In a back-and-forth nonconference men’s basketball game decided in the final seconds, Ace Glass III scored 24 points to lead Washington State to an 84-78 victory over Mercer on Saturday night at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars, who improved to 5-8, used a late 8-0 run to break a 77-77 tie and secure the win in front of a crowd of 2,374. Mercer fell to 7-5 with the loss. Glass, a 6-foot-3 guard from Upland, California, was the catalyst for Washington State, adding five rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block in 29 minutes. His performance came on the heels of a 14-point outing in a win over Eastern Washington earlier in the week. He was supported by a double-double from forward Eemeli Yalaho of Jyvaskyla, Finland, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final minute. With the score knotted at 77, Washington State’s Adria Rodriguez was fouled and made one of two free throws to give the Cougars a one-point lead with 1:01 remaining. On the ensuing Mercer possession, the Bears’ Armani Mighty scored inside to put Mercer back ahead 79-78 with 40 seconds left. Washington State immediately answered. Yalaho was fouled on the other end and calmly sank both free throws to restore a one-point Cougar lead with 25 seconds on the clock. After a Mercer timeout, the Bears’ Baraka Okojie hit a tough turnaround jumper to push Mercer back in front 81-80 with just 17 seconds remaining. The Cougars inbounded the ball to Glass, who drove aggressively and drew a foul with 16 seconds left. He made both free throws to put Washington State up 82-81. Mercer’s final chance to win or tie came up short. Okojie’s three-point attempt was blocked by Tomas Thrastarson with four seconds left, and after Glass secured two more free throws, a desperation heave by Mercer at the buzzer was off target. The game featured 11 ties and 12 lead changes, with neither team able to build a substantial advantage. Washington State took a narrow 41-39 lead into halftime. Mercer’s scoring was evenly split, with 39 points in each half, while the Cougars added 43 in the second period to seal the win. Okojie, a guard from Brampton, Canada, led all scorers with 24 points for Mercer. Connor Serven of Prairie City, Illinois, added 15 points and seven rebounds, while Mighty, from Toronto, recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Washington State’s international contingent played a significant role. Beyond Yalaho, Thrastarson of Thorlakshofn, Iceland, contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Rihards Vavers of Adazi, Latvia, provided a key spark off the bench with 12 points, all from beyond the arc, in just 16 minutes. ND Okafor of Dundalk, Ireland, also chipped in 10 points. For Mercer, Zaire Williams of Brooklyn, New York, scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds. Washington State, which was a 7.5-point pregame favorite, narrowly covered the spread. The combined score of 162 points went over the posted over/under of 153.5. National statistical models had given the Cougars a 78% probability of winning. Both teams now break for the holidays before returning to action. Washington State travels to face Portland on Dec. 28, while Mercer will host Baptist University on the same date.

Preview of Mercer vs. Washington State Men’s Basketball NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — Teams on contrasting trajectories will meet Saturday when the Mercer Bears visit the Washington State Cougars in a nonconference men’s basketball game at Beasley Coliseum. Mercer (7-4) enters with a winning record but seeks to rebound from back-to-back road losses at Clemson and UCF. The Bears fell 81-63 to the Knights on Wednesday despite 13 points and four blocks from standout forward Armani Mighty. The junior has been a consistent force, averaging 13.7 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last seven games, including a 22-point performance against Georgia State and a 12-point, 12-rebound outing at Eastern Kentucky. Washington State (4-8) snapped a five-game skid with a 78-63 victory at Eastern Washington on Wednesday. Guard Emmanuel Ugbo led the way with 20 points, showcasing the scoring punch he will need to provide against Mercer. The Cougars have struggled defensively, allowing 78.3 points per game during their recent losing streak. The game presents a clear contrast. Mercer has shown offensive balance and resilience, with Brady Shoulders and Baraka Okojie joining Mighty as key contributors. Washington State will rely on Ugbo and Ace Glass III, who had 14 points and five assists against Eastern Washington, to generate offense. This is the final nonconference tune-up for both squads before league play begins. Mercer opens Southern Conference action on Dec. 31 at Furman. Washington State begins West Coast Conference play on Jan. 2 against Loyola Marymount. Saturday’s tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central Time at Beasley Coliseum.