Preview: Saint Mary’s Gaels at Washington State Cougars NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — The surging Saint Mary’s Gaels, ranked eighth nationally, look to continue their dominant season when they visit the Washington State Cougars in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup organized by the West Coast on Saturday at Beasley Coliseum. Saint Mary’s (24-4) enters on a five-game winning streak, most recently edging Seattle 72-70 on Wednesday. The Gaels’ efficient offense and stout defense have made them one of the nation’s elite teams, with their only loss since Jan. 10 coming against then-Gonzaga. Washington State (12-16) seeks consistency after a season of ups and downs. The Cougars are coming off an 87-70 home victory over Pacific but have lost four of their last six games. A key matchup will feature two of the region’s top scorers. Saint Mary’s is led by guard Mikey Lewis, who is averaging 16.3 points over his last three games, including a 22-point performance at Seattle. For Washington State, forward Rihards Vavers has been a bright spot, scoring 21 points in the win over Pacific and averaging 18.4 points over his last five contests. The Gaels won the earlier meeting this season, 88-82 at home on Jan. 10. In that game, Saint Mary’s used a balanced attack to overcome a 21-point, 2-assist effort from Vavers. Saint Mary’s boasts a formidable inside presence to complement Lewis, with forwards Paulius Murauskas and Andrew McKeever combining for 30 points in the midweek win. Washington State will counter with a backcourt featuring Jerone Morton, who leads the team in assists. The game represents a major opportunity for the Cougars to secure a signature win against a top-10 opponent at a neutral site, while the Gaels aim to bolster their NCAA tournament resume with another road victory. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. CST Saturday. Saint Mary’s will return home to face Santa Clara next Wednesday, while Washington State travels to face Loyola Marymount the same night.