Loyola Marymount didn’t win this one with a steady 40 minutes. It won it with a ruthless 20.

Down 39-24 at halftime, LMU ripped control of the game after the break, outscoring Washington State 43-27 in the second half to escape with a 67-66 win on Feb. 26, 2026.

How the game swung

Washington State owned the first half, taking a 15-point lead into the locker room behind a 39-point opening 20 minutes. LMU, stuck at 24 at the break, looked like a team searching for answers.

The second half flipped fast. LMU’s 43-point response wasn’t just a scoring jump — it was a complete change in game script. The Lions turned a 15-point deficit into a one-point win, meaning the margin in the second half alone was +16 for the home side.

Second-half avalanche

LMU’s path was clear: win the possession battle late and keep pressure on the Cougars’ shot-making. The Lions did exactly that by sustaining offense across the final 20 minutes, while Washington State’s production dropped from 39 in the first half to 27 in the second.

That scoring split told the story: when the game tightened, LMU kept generating points; Washington State couldn’t match the pace.

What it means going forward

For Loyola Marymount (15-15), the win reinforced a pattern of resilience — and it came at the right time. With a .500 record now intact, the Lions have a tangible blueprint: survive the rough stretches, then lean into their ability to ramp up intensity after halftime.

For Washington State (12-18), the loss fit a familiar, frustrating theme. The Cougars had the game in hand at halftime, then watched it slip in the second half as their scoring cooled and LMU’s pressure mounted. When you’re trying to stabilize late in the season, giving away a 15-point halftime lead is the kind of result that lingers.

Final

Loyola Marymount 67, Washington State 66

Halftime: Washington State 39, Loyola Marymount 24