For 32 minutes on Sunday, Washington State looked like it had full control. The Cougars were carving up San Francisco in the paint, building a 75-68 lead with just over seven minutes to play. They were getting high-percentage looks, finishing at the rim, and showing the kind of offensive rhythm that wins road games.
Then, just like that, it all unraveled.
Over the final 7:06, WSU managed only five points-all from Jerone Morton in a quick burst-and took just three shots inside the arc. That shift away from what had been working proved costly.
San Francisco, meanwhile, capitalized on the Cougars’ offensive stall, making timely plays and getting to the free-throw line enough to flip the game. Final score: 85-80, Dons.
It’s the kind of loss that stings because it was right there for the taking. And it’s not the first time this season WSU has walked away from a game thinking the outcome could’ve been different with just one or two more plays down the stretch. This was at least the third such game where the Cougars let a winnable one slip away late.
Morton’s five-point mini-run with 2:30 left looked like it might be the dagger. But WSU didn’t score again after that. Instead, the Cougars turned the ball over three times in the final minutes, unable to close the door.
Then came the possession everyone will be talking about.
After WSU trapped a USF player in the corner and gave up a layup, Ace Glass stormed down the court and buried a deep three to tie the game. But it didn’t count-head coach David Riley had called timeout.
“I’m typically a guy that likes to let our guys play with flow at the end of games,” Riley said postgame. “I just didn’t like the spacing we had-two guys were on the wrong side. I thought we could get a better shot out of the timeout.”
Unfortunately, they never got a shot at all. Out of the timeout, Morton found himself matched up with 6-foot-11 Guillermo Diaz Graham and tried to hoist a contested three.
Midair, he thought better of it and attempted a pass, which was promptly picked off. San Francisco took possession and sealed the win.
It’s worth noting: WSU didn’t need a three. There were still 15 seconds left, and San Francisco was in the one-and-one.
There was time to run offense, get a quality look, or even draw contact. Instead, it was a rushed, broken possession that ended without a shot on goal.
And yet, at halftime, there was reason to believe WSU was in a good spot. San Francisco had been living on jumpers and shooting nearly 60% on them-a tough pace to sustain. But the Dons still hit 40% from deep overall, and WSU repeatedly lost track of Diaz Graham, who drilled a three to answer Morton’s late run and had another earlier that helped swing momentum.
Offensively, WSU simply stopped doing what had worked. The Cougars were 17-of-22 on layups for the game, but down the stretch, they settled for jumpers instead of continuing to attack. That change in approach allowed San Francisco to stay home defensively and limit second-chance opportunities.
Turning Point: After Morton’s three gave WSU a four-point edge with just over two minutes to play, the Cougars had a chance to get a stop and potentially put the game away. Instead, they gave up a bucket, and San Francisco used that spark to close on a 9-0 run.
Standout Performers: Glass led WSU with 20 points but struggled in the second half, going just 3-of-9 with a couple of costly turnovers. Morton added 11, but he too had late-game miscues. Eemeli Yalaho turned in a career-high 21 points, ND Okafor chipped in 14, and Adria Rodriguez quietly had a strong all-around game-four points, four boards, six assists, and zero turnovers.
Key Stats: San Francisco dominated in second-chance points (14-4) and bench scoring (30-10). WSU’s depth was thin again, with Ri Vavers, Tomas Thrastarson, and Kase Wynott all still sidelined.
Perhaps most frustrating for the Cougars: despite scoring 46 points in the paint, they attempted just three free throws all game. That discrepancy didn’t sit well with Riley afterward-and understandably so.
The Bottom Line: Losing by five on the road at San Francisco isn’t catastrophic on its own. But the way WSU let this one slip through their fingers-failing to execute in the final minutes, getting away from what was working, and coming up empty on a crucial final possession-makes it a tough one to digest. It’s not just the loss, it’s the missed opportunity.
KenPom Watch: WSU holds steady at No. 148.
What’s Next: The Cougars stay on the road to face San Diego on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. PT on ESPN+.
The Toreros are 8-12 overall and 2-5 in conference play, coming off a win over non-Division I Bethesda. They were missing three key players in that game, but with the matchup against WSU looming, it’s likely head coach Steve Lavin was simply resting them in what amounted to a tune-up.