St. Thomas heads west for a tough Monday night test against Washington State in what could be one of the tightest matchups of the early college basketball season. Both teams are eager to build momentum after uneven starts to 2025-26.
TV schedule: Monday, November 10, 2025 – 6:30 p.m. PST, ESPN+
Arena: Beasley Coliseum, Pullman, Washington
St. Thomas Looking to Build on First Win
The Tommies opened their season with a humbling 84-58 road loss at Saint Mary’s but responded well with an 83-76 win over Army at home. The Summit League squad is still searching for consistency on both ends, averaging just 70.5 points per game while allowing 80.
Junior guard Nolan Minnesake has been the bright spot early, averaging 22 points per game and carrying the scoring load. Freshman guard Nick Janowski has also been efficient, scoring 15 per game on 53% shooting in heavy minutes. Head coach Johnny Tauer will hope his offense continues to find its rhythm before returning home later in the week to face Green Bay.
Cougars Seeking to Break Early Skid
Washington State’s transition to the West Coast Conference hasn’t started smoothly. The Cougars are 0-2 after a narrow home loss to Idaho and a 16-point defeat at Davidson. Head coach Kyle Smith’s team has shown flashes of potential but has struggled to close games.
Emmanuel Ugbo has been the team’s top performer through two contests, averaging 16.5 points per game on 55.6% shooting. Hunter Adams provided a spark off the bench with 14 points against Davidson, and his energy could be key as the Cougars look to get on track before their rivalry matchup with Washington on Friday.
Prediction
Both teams need a win to steady their footing early in the season. Expect a competitive game with Washington State’s size and home-court advantage proving just enough to make the difference down the stretch.
Prediction: Washington State 80, St. Thomas 76