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# Hot Shooting Not Enough as Cougars Lose to Dons 85-80
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/hot-shooting-not-enough-washington-state-cougars-san-francisco/
- Published: 2026-01-19T19:28:23.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:54:01.000Z
- Author: Jacob Stevenson
- Tags: Analysis, Eemeli Yalaho, ND Okafor, Adria Rodriguez, Ace Glass, Jerone Morton, Cougars

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="4202"\]

![  Jerone Morton attempts a three-point shot during a WCC game for the Washington State Cougars. Credit: Washington State Athletics  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/dsc07413-format-original.jpg)

Jerone Morton attempts a three-point shot during a WCC game for the Washington State Cougars. Credit: Washington State Athletics \[/caption\]

The Washington State Cougars found themselves in a back-and-forth battle that ultimately slipped away late, falling to the San Francisco Dons 85–80 after surrendering a decisive run in the final minutes.

Washington State trailed 48–44 at halftime in a game where both teams came out of the gates red-hot offensively and never truly cooled down with points aplenty on the scoreboard.

San Francisco was led in the first half by Junjie Wang, who was nearly flawless from the field. Wang scored 15 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. His shooting helped set the tone for the Dons, who consistently found open looks against the Cougars’ defense. Washington State, however, kept pace thanks to balanced scoring from multiple contributors. Ace Glass, Eemlei Yalaho, and ND Okafor carried the offensive load early, combining for 36 of the Cougars’ 44 first-half points.

The Cougars shot an impressive 18-for-27 from the field in the opening half and knocked down six of their 9 three-point attempts. San Francisco matched the offensive intensity, shooting 15-for-27 from the field and 8-for-12 from three. The difference at halftime came down to a few defensive breakdowns and timely shots from the Dons, allowing them to take a four-point lead into the locker room.

Washington State responded well in the second half, gradually taking control of the game. With six minutes remaining, the Cougars held a 75–68 lead and appeared to have momentum firmly on their side. Even after San Francisco closed the gap, Washington State regained the advantage at 80–76 with 2:31 left. Unfortunately for the Cougars, that would be their final points of the night. San Francisco closed the game on a decisive 9–0 run, capitalizing on defensive lapses and missed opportunities to secure the 85–80 victory.

Defensively, Washington State struggled throughout the game, allowing 85 points and giving up efficient shooting both inside and beyond the arc. The Dons finished the night shooting over 50% from the field and from three-point range, a formula that is difficult to overcome regardless of offensive efficiency. In addition to Wang’s performance, San Francisco had three other players reach double figures. Guillermo Diaz Graham scored 14 points, Ryan Beasley added 13, and David Fuchs chipped in eight key points.

Despite the loss, there were several positives for the Cougars. Offensively, Washington State was outstanding, shooting 58% from the field and 48% from three-point range. Four Cougars finished in double figures, highlighting the team’s balanced scoring attack. Yalaho led the way with 21 points, continuing to establish himself as one of the Cougars’ most reliable offensive weapons. His ability to stretch the floor with his three-point shooting while also scoring effectively in the post has been a major asset this season.

Glass followed closely with 20 points, while Okafor and Jerone Morton added 14 and 11 points, respectively. Additionally, Rodriguez has shown improvement in recent games and continued that upward trend on Saturday. Although he scored only four points, he dished out six assists without committing a turnover.

Looking ahead, the Cougars have two favorable matchups this week against teams near the bottom of the WCC standings. Washington State will travel to San Diego on Wednesday before returning home to host Pepperdine on Saturday. With February approaching, consistency will be key as the Cougars look to build on their offensive success from Saturday.