Preview: Washington State at Loyola Marymount LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Two teams seeking momentum for the final stretch of the regular season will meet Wednesday when the Washington State Cougars visit the Loyola Marymount Lions in a nonconference men’s basketball game at Gersten Pavilion. The matchup, organized by the West Coast, pits a pair of programs with sub-.500 records looking to build on recent victories. Washington State (12-17) snapped a three-game skid with an 87-70 win over Pacific on Feb. 18 before falling 83-67 to Saint Mary’s in its most recent outing. Loyola Marymount (14-15) arrives having won two of its last three, including a 77-65 road victory at San Diego on Saturday. A key player to watch for the Cougars is forward Rihards Vavers, who has been a consistent scoring threat. He is averaging 16.1 points over his last seven games, including a 24-point performance against Seattle on Jan. 28 and a 21-point outing against Pacific. His ability to stretch the floor will be critical for Washington State’s offense. The Lions counter with guard Myron Amey, who leads the team in scoring during this recent stretch. Amey is averaging 17.6 points over his last seven contests, highlighted by a 25-point effort in a narrow 90-89 loss at Pepperdine on Feb. 14. He scored 18 points in the win over San Diego. The teams met earlier this season in Pullman, with Washington State securing a narrow 78-76 victory on Jan. 2. That result guarantees a motivated Lions squad seeking revenge on their home floor. For Washington State, the game represents a final nonconference opportunity to steady itself before closing its schedule. Loyola Marymount aims to get back to .500 and build confidence before its West Coast Conference finale. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST Wednesday.