The Washington State Cougars had a smooth sailing victory as they defeated the Cal Bears with a final score of 84-65 on Thursday night. Despite a slow start, the Cougars found their rhythm fueled by the enthusiastic student section, making the atmosphere at the arena feel electrifying. The official attendance was recorded at 2,744, but the noise and energy generated by the engaged crowd made it seem like a much larger number.

During the game, the student section made their presence felt by relentlessly cheering on their team and taunting Cal superstar Jaylon Tyson. They also directed their energy towards Cal head coach Mark Madsen, particularly after he received a technical foul in the first half.

Despite the less than ideal conditions with icy roads and heavy fog, there is optimism that the attendance will improve when Washington State University hosts Stanford on Saturday. Coach Kyle Smith expressed his appreciation for the energized crowd during the postgame press conference and encouraged more fans to show up for the next game.

In the first half, both teams took some time to find their rhythm, resulting in a relatively low-scoring game. However, with 6:43 remaining in the half, the Cougars went on a scoring spree, netting 19 points and taking a comfortable 12-point lead into halftime.

Coach Smith praised the team's performance, highlighting the strong play of Isaac Jones, Myles Rice, Kymany Houinsou, and Rueben Chinyelu. The Cougars never looked back after finding their groove and maintained a double-digit lead throughout the game. They also stifled Cal's offense, limiting their scoring opportunities aside from free throws.

Washington State's defensive effort was particularly commendable, as they managed to neutralize Cal's two-man game featuring Jaylon Tyson and Fardaws Aimaq. Oscar Cluff's stellar defense played a pivotal role in shutting down Cal's interior offense, with Cluff blocking four shots and impeding Aimaq's scoring opportunities.

The Cougars dominated the game in the paint and on the glass, outrebounding Cal 39-28 and winning the battle inside with a 40-24 advantage. Washington State's collective effort on both ends of the court contributed to their victory.

The win solidifies Washington State's position as they aim for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With their latest blowout victory, they hope to improve their NET rankings, which consider the margin of victory. Analysts have projected the Cougars as a No. 5 or No. 6 seed.

This victory marks Washington State's sixth consecutive win and ninth win in their last ten games. This winning streak is the team's longest in conference play since the 1944-45 season.

The turning point of the game came when Andrej Jakimovski hit back-to-back three-pointers, igniting a 14-5 run that allowed the Cougars to establish a comfortable lead. Isaac Jones was named the Player of the Game for his unstoppable performance, scoring 21 points and grabbing nine rebounds.

The Washington State Cougars will now shift their focus to their upcoming game against Stanford, which will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. Fans are encouraged to support the team and continue the energetic atmosphere that has been instrumental in their recent success.