Washington State Drops Close Game to Saint Mary’s, Slips to 3-2 in WCC Play

Falling just short against one of the WCC’s best programs, the Washington State Cougars dropped a high-scoring 88–82 road contest against Saint Mary’s, coming up just short on a statement conference win.

While any loss is disappointing, the performance showed clear signs of growth for the Cougars. The team continues to trend upward, and if that progress continues, Washington State has a legitimate chance to enjoy a successful remainder of its West Coast Conference schedule.

Despite the final score, Washington State’s toughness and resilience were on full display Saturday night. Playing on the road against a strong Saint Mary’s team is never easy, and the Cougars found themselves in a deep hole early. After falling behind by as many as 18 points in the first half and trailing 47–29, Washington State could have folded. Instead, the Cougars responded with grit and determination, steadily chipping away at the deficit.

That perseverance paid off in the second half, as Washington State cut the lead to just three points with 7:26 remaining. Even when Saint Mary’s pushed the margin back to 13 with 2:07 left to play, the Cougars refused to give in. They closed the game on a strong run, trimming the deficit to six before time expired.

Individually, several Cougars delivered impressive performances. Freshman Ace Glass stood out in particular, thriving against Saint Mary’s defense and pouring in a game-high 24 points on an efficient 7-of-13 shooting. ND Okafor continued his consistent play in the post, finishing with 17 points and seven rebounds, providing a steady presence in the paint and on the glass.

Jerone Morton also deserves recognition for his improved play during WCC action. Morton recorded nine points and nine assists while committing just one turnover. He has really settled into his role and improved since WCC play started.

As a team, Washington State’s offense was particularly impressive. Scoring 82 points on 55 percent shooting is an excellent output, especially against a team like Saint Mary’s that typically plays stingy defense. That level of efficiency is the kind that can win games consistently and should give the Cougars confidence heading into the next stretch of conference play. Unfortunately, they weren’t quite able to come up with enough defensive stops to pull off the upset.

Looking ahead, Washington State faces two critical matchups: Gonzaga at home followed by a road game against San Francisco. Defeating Gonzaga is a difficult task for any team, especially with the Bulldogs entering the matchup with a 17–1 record. Gonzaga’s depth, experience, and ability to win on the road make them a formidable opponent. However, if the Cougars bring the same resilience, toughness, and offensive efficiency they showed against Saint Mary’s, they will give themselves a chance to compete.

While there’s no such thing as moral victories, the progress is clear for coach David Riley’s team. If those trends continue, the Cougars could be poised for a strong finish to league play and potentially start to turn close losses such as the one in Moraga into meaningful wins.