Washington State Uses Late Comeback to Beat Portland in WCC Opener
Opening West Coast Conference play on the road, the Washington State Cougars jumped out to a strong start against the Portland Pilots and carried a 32–23 lead into halftime, turning in one of their best halves of the 2025-26 season thus far.
However, the offense went ice cold for the Cougs early in the second half, allowing the Pilots to climb back into the game. With 9:30 remaining, Washington State found itself trailing 45–37 after struggling to convert open shots. Rather than folding, however, the Cougars responded with their best stretch of basketball on the night, going on a decisive 12–0 run to regain the lead.
From that point forward, Washington State kept control and closed out a 67-62 victory to open WCC play on a winning note. Who stood out from Wazzu’s big win at the Chiles Center?
Richards Vavers
Vavers provided a spark off the bench, leading the Cougars in scoring with 13 points. Efficient from deep, he knocked down three of his five three point attempts. His shooting proved critical during a night when Washington State struggled overall from the field, helping lift the team down the stretch with clutch jumpers.
Eemeli Yalaho
Yalaho did not have his best scoring performance for Washington State, finishing with seven points while shooting 2-for-7 from the floor, but he made a strong impact in other areas to help secure the win. He pulled down nine rebounds and dished out four assists, affecting the game in numerous ways without scoring the basketball.
Ace Glass
Wazzu’s leading scorer coming into the WCC opener, Glass had a difficult shooting night, going just 1-for-8 from the field. Despite the struggles, he stayed aggressive and did his damage at the free throw line, where he converted 9 of 10 attempts to find a way to still factor into the victory even without his jump shot falling. He also added three assists creating baskets for teammates.
Improved Defense
Defensively, Washington State continued its recent upward trend. The Cougars held the Pilots to just 62 points and 90.7 points per 100 possessions, their second-best defensive performance of the season. Portland shot only 31% from the field and 26% from three-point range. Holding any team to those numbers, regardless of offensive output, gives a team a strong chance to win. Even on a night when the Cougars did not play well offensively, their defense carried them through, a positive development given the defensive struggles endured for much of the past two seasons.
What’s Next?
As Washington State looks to turn its season around, continued defensive improvement will be key. The Cougars have rebounded the ball well all year, but early defensive struggles made it difficult to win games unless they shot extremely well from three. Recently, better rotations and more consistent communication have forced opponents into tough jump shots, allowing Washington State to stay competitive even when the offense stalls.
With a 1–0 start to WCC play, the Cougars now head to Seattle to take on the 11-3 Redhawks on Tuesday. Seattle U defeated Stanford and Washington in non-conference play, but lost at home to San Francisco on Sunday. This latest test represents another strong opportunity for Washington State to build momentum and continue proving that their emerging defensive identity can carry them forward.
