Washington State Drops 104 on Portland in Statement Win: Depth, Ball Movement, and Dominance Define the Night
PULLMAN - If you looked at the box score and saw Ace Glass went 4-of-14 for just nine points, you might’ve assumed Washington State had a rough night. But that stat line didn’t tell the whole story - not even close.
The Cougars didn’t just win. They exploded for a 104-74 rout over Portland, the program’s highest scoring output since 2021, and the most in regulation at home since 1995.
This wasn’t just a win. It was a showcase of how deep and dangerous this WSU team can be when things are clicking.
The last time these two teams met, Wazzu managed only 67 points. Fast forward to Saturday, and it was a completely different story - one written by a supporting cast that stepped up in a major way.
Depth on Display
With Glass drawing heavy defensive attention - face-guarded, doubled, chased off the three-point line - others were forced to step up. And they did.
Eemeli Yalaho and Parker Gerrits both had career nights, going for 26 and 11 points respectively. Yalaho was nearly automatic, hitting 8-of-10 from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc.
Gerrits added three triples of his own, including a smooth fadeaway late in the shot clock that showed off his growing confidence.
The scoring didn’t stop there. Rihards Vavers continued his heater from deep, dropping 18 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three.
ND Okafor added 15, and Simon Hildebrandt chipped in 10. That’s five Cougars in double figures - and Glass wasn’t one of them.
That’s how you know this team is evolving.
Ball Movement Makes the Difference
For head coach David Riley, the 104 points were nice - but the 26 assists on 36 made field goals? That’s what really stood out.
“When our team is playing at their best, whatever the defense is trying to take away, we’ll punish them for it,” Riley said postgame. “They put two on the ball with Ace, they face-guarded him, and he did a really good job of taking what the defense gave him.”
Glass didn’t force it. Instead, he dished a career-high seven assists without turning the ball over.
Adria Rodriguez, who’s quietly becoming one of the Cougars’ most steady playmakers, handed out a career-best nine assists of his own. Every Cougar who saw the floor recorded at least one assist - except for Dio Blakely, who still made his presence felt by knocking down a pair of free throws in his third straight appearance.
This kind of distribution is a far cry from earlier in the season when Riley openly called the team’s assist numbers “pathetic.” Now? They’re moving the ball with purpose and precision - and it’s paying off.
No Let-Up, No Letdown
What really made this performance different was the sustained dominance. WSU jumped out to a 22-point halftime lead and never let Portland back in it.
The Pilots never got closer than 16 in the second half, and for the final 14 minutes, the lead never dipped below 20. This wasn’t a hot start followed by a second-half lull.
This was wire-to-wire control against a team that just took St. Mary’s to the brink last weekend.
Even as the second half turned into a whistle-fest, the Cougars kept their composure and stayed locked in. That kind of maturity matters - especially with tougher matchups looming.
The Turning Point
If Portland’s Garrett Nuckolls had déjà vu, it’s understandable. Earlier this season, a technical foul from him sparked a 25-8 WSU run.
On Saturday, history repeated itself. Another tech on Nuckolls - another massive Cougar run, this time 26-2.
That stretch effectively buried the Pilots and turned a convincing lead into a blowout.
Stat Sheet Highlights
- WSU hit 16 threes. Portland hit five.
- The Cougars have now allowed just 14 made threes total over their current three-game win streak - a major improvement after giving up 15 to San Diego alone last week.
- Yalaho was one rebound shy of a double-double.
- Glass and Rodriguez combined for 16 of the team’s 26 assists.
What It Means
Yes, Portland isn’t a powerhouse. But this is a team that’s hung tough with San Francisco, Santa Clara, and St.
Mary’s. For Washington State to run them off the floor like this - and do it with balance, ball movement, and defensive focus - says a lot about where this team is headed.
The Cougars needed this three-game home stretch, and they made the most of it. Across those three games, they trailed for a grand total of 2 minutes and 8 seconds. That’s not just taking care of business - that’s asserting control.
KenPom Watch
WSU made a notable jump in the KenPom rankings, climbing from No. 142 to No. 127 - their highest mark of the season. Yalaho earned KenPom MVP honors for the game.
Looking Ahead
Next up: a road trip to Oregon State. WSU handled the Beavers earlier this season in Spokane, but Gill Coliseum has a reputation for being a tough place to play. OSU sits at 12-12 overall and 5-6 in conference - not a gimme, especially on the road.
Notables
- Emmanuel Ugbo was suspended for a violation of team rules. No further details were provided by Riley.
- The Cougars paid tribute to the late George Raveling with custom shoes - a classy nod to a legendary figure in the program’s history.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t just a win - it was a statement. Washington State showed off its depth, its unselfishness, and its ability to dominate without needing a big night from its star. If the Cougars can keep this kind of balance and ball movement going, they’re going to be a tough out down the stretch.