Cougars Capsized by Waves, Lose 88-79 in Malibu
Closing out what has been a frustrating and disappointing regular season, the Washington State Cougars couldn’t overcome a poor start and dropped their finale in an 88–79 loss to Pepperdine in Malibu.
Despite the final score appearing somewhat competitive, the game was far more lopsided than the final score suggests, as Washington State used a garbage time run to make the end tally seem closer than it really was. The Cougars trailed by as many as 20 points with 8:30 remaining in the second half and were still down 16, 74–58, with just five minutes to play before a late run narrowed the gap.
With the loss, Washington State falls to 12–19 overall and 7–11 in West Coast Conference play, finishing eighth in the conference standings. In a year full of bad losses, this latest setback may be arguably the team’s most disappointing of the season, coming against a Pepperdine squad that entered the matchup in last place in the WCC. Even more concerning is the Cougars’ continued inability to win away from home. Washington State finished the regular season with just one Division I road victory outside the state of Washington.
Washington State Fizzles in Second Half, Saint Mary’s Pulls Away for 83-67 Win
The Washington State Cougars hung with Saint Mary's for nearly 27 minutes on Saturday night, but a cold half from beyond the arc and a lack of stops down the stretch allowed the favored Gaels to pull away for an 83–67 victory in Pullman.
For much of the game, the Cougars showed they were capable of competing with one of the top teams in the West Coast Conference. However, they needed to play at their best for 40 minutes and once Saint Mary’s started to pull away, Washington State wasn’t able to make another run to get back in it in the closing minutes.
Washington State shot the ball from three-point range really well in the first half, going 7-12 from downtown, sending coach David Riley’s team into the break trailing 40-39.
Offensive Explosion Guides Washington State to Blowout 87-70 Win vs. Pacific
After what may have been their worst performance of the 2025–2026 season, the Washington State Cougars responded in emphatic fashion Wednesday night. The Cougars delivered arguably their most complete game of the year, knocking off the fourth-place Pacific Tigers 87–70 in a performance that showcased their ability to shoot the ball.
With the victory, Washington State now finds itself tied with Oregon State for fifth place in the West Coast Conference standings and sits just a half-game behind Pacific for the fourth spot. Considering how tightly packed the middle of the conference table is, Wednesday’s win could prove pivotal as the regular season winds down.
What stood out from the Cougs’ unexpected offensive onslaught?
Washington State Loses to Santa Clara, Dips Back Below .500 Mark in WCC
Unable to keep its winning streak intact, Washington State fell 96–92 to first-place Santa Clara on Saturday in a frustrating loss that summed up the Cougars’ inconsistent season. When the offense is clicking, the defense struggles, and when the defense tightens up, the offense disappears.
Unfortunately for Washington State, that imbalance showed up once again against the Broncos, dropping the Cougars to 11–15 overall and 6–7 in WCC play, tying them for fifth place in the conference standings.
Offensively, Washington State did plenty of things well on Saturday. The Cougars have now scored over 90 points in back-to-back home games, including a 100-plus point performance against Portland on January 31. Against Santa Clara, they shot the ball efficiently and with confidence, especially from beyond the arc. Washington State connected on 13 of 25 three-point attempts, a strong 52%, keeping them within striking distance throughout the game.
Second Half Struggles Doom Washington State Cougars in Loss to Oregon State
Letting a double-digit lead slip away in a disastrous final 20 minutes in Corvallis, the Cougars missed out on an excellent opportunity to make up ground in the WCC standings.
Cougars Smash Pilots 104-74, Run WCC Win Streak to Three Games
Hitting triple digits on the scoreboard, the Cougars lit up the net on Saturday with arguably the best offensive showing of the David Riley era. How did Wazzu roll past Portland for a third straight WCC win?
Washington State Men’s Basketball Exacts Revenge Against Seattle U
The Cougars men’s basketball team avenged a loss to the Redhawks earlier in the season with a 70-58 victory.
Hot Shooting Not Enough as Cougars Lose to Dons 85-80
Despite enjoying their best shooting performance of the season in San Francisco, the Cougars couldn’t get quite enough defensive stops to beat the Dons on the road. What went wrong late to prevent Wazzu from landing a big win?
Washington State Drops Close Game to Saint Mary’s, Slips to 3-2 in WCC Play
Several second half runs positioned the Cougars to pull off an upset in Moraga against one of the WCC’s premier programs, but time ran out before a comeback could fully materialize. Is a close call against Saint Mary’s a positive sign moving forward?
Stock Watch: Who Starred in Washington State’s 78-76 Win vs. Loyola Marymount?
Overcoming an ugly start on their home court, the Cougars raced back to take a halftime lead and held on late for a close win over Loyola Marymount. Who impressed the most in Wazzu’s second WCC victory?
Analysis: Breaking Down Washington State’s 2025-26 Men’s Basketball Roster
Looking to improve on an 8-10 WCC record from a year ago, who will the Cougars be counting on to contribute in 2025-26?
Cougars Basketball Roster Rundown: ND Okafor
Gradually improving in his first year in Pullman, the Cougars hope to see another leap forward from ND Okafor to provide a more reliable scoring presence with size and length in the front court.
ALL SEATTLE SPORTS, ALL THE TIME
Explore our latest Seattle sports content by clicking on your favorite team(s) below!
