Cuesta Men's Basketball shall close out its first round of Western State Conference play and open the second round on their homecourt this week.   The Cougars host Los Angeles Pierce on Wednesday (5 PM) to open the week. The Brahmas currently occupy the WSC's cellar and are looking for their first victory against the loop, while the Cougars sit in the middle of the pack with a 2-3 conference record.  Cuesta also hosts Santa Barbara on Saturday (3 PM) to open the second round of conference play.  The Cougars beat the Vaqueros, 74-54, in their first meeting in Santa Barbara on January 10.  

Last week, Cuesta played only one contest against the Western State Conference, but it was on the road against loop-leader and 16th-ranked Moorpark.  The Cougars came out firing and led, 11-7, in the first six minutes, but the Raiders took over from there to build 25-point lead going into the final eight minutes of the contest.  2023 All-WSC First Team Guard Drew Ardouin piled up the points with a team season-high 34, which including a 10-for-11 night at the free throw line.  Power Forward Ethan Walker also contributed his fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and ten rebounds.  The Cougars are 7-14 overall and 2-3 against the Western State Conference.