Cougars Smash Pilots 104-74, Run WCC Win Streak to Three Games
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Washington State guard Parker Gerrits dribbles past a Portland Pilots defender during a WCC regular season game. Credit: Bobby Sedeno [/caption]
Washington State put together one of its best offensive performances of the season on Saturday afternoon, rolling past Portland 104-74 in a dominant West Coast Conference victory. With the Cougars winning their third game in a row, they improved their record to 11-13 overall and 6-5 in WCC play, placing them in a tie for fourth place in the conference standings.
The Cougars showed balance, efficiency, and poise throughout the afternoon in a dominant performance against the Pilots, delivering what may have been the most complete offensive outing of head coach David Riley’s tenure at Washington State. Not only did WSU eclipse the 100-point mark, but it did so against multiple defensive looks while maintaining elite shooting numbers and strong ball movement.
Washington State shot over 50% from the field and was especially lethal from beyond the arc, connecting on 16 of 31 three-point attempts (52%). The Cougars’ unselfishness was on full display, as they tallied 26 assists on 36 made field goals, consistently finding open shooters and attacking defensive gaps.
Leading the way was Eemeli Yalaho, who delivered a stellar performance and paced the Cougars with 26 points. Yalaho was remarkably efficient, shooting 8-of-10 from the field and knocking down 5-of-6 attempts from three-point range, leading the onslaught from beyond the arc.
Richards Vavers continued his strong stretch of play, adding 18 points while hitting 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. His shooting has become a reliable weapon for the Cougars and provides valuable spacing for the offense. ND Okafor also made a significant impact, finishing with 15 points and benefiting from the guards spreading the floor with their lethal effectiveness from deep.
Washington State received production across the lineup, with Parker Gerrits scoring 11 points and Simon Hildebrandt adding 10 to give the Cougars five players in double figures. While Ace Glass did not have his most efficient scoring night, finishing with nine points on 4-of-14 shooting, his impact remained strong. Glass dished out seven assists and committed zero turnovers, helping orchestrate the offense and keep the Cougars in control.
Another encouraging performance for the Cougs came from Adria Rodriguez, who has really struggled during most of his time in Pullman thus far. Rodriguez recorded nine assists and played a crucial role in sparking a key run by playing in the middle of Portland’s zone defense. His recent improvement has been noticeable, as he has averaged approximately six assists per game over the last six games and seems to be settling in against Division I competition.
With momentum building, Washington State will look to carry this offensive rhythm on the road as they travel to Corvallis to face rival Oregon State. The Cougars will then return home to host Santa Clara on Saturday, looking to keep climbing the WCC standings heading towards the conference tournament next month.
