WSU Rallies Late, Survives Portland Scare to Open WCC Play with Gritty Win
They don’t ask how - they ask how many. And for Washington State, the answer was just enough.
The Cougars overcame a brutal scoring drought and a second-half collapse to pull off a gutsy 67-62 road win over Portland on Sunday, flipping the script with a late-game surge that showed more heart than polish. Down eight with under 10 minutes to play and seemingly out of rhythm on both ends, WSU dug deep and found a way - not a pretty one, but a winning one.
Let’s be clear: for the first 30 minutes, this looked like a game slipping away fast. The Cougars led 32-23 at halftime, but came out of the locker room cold and flat.
Portland went on an 18-3 run, flipping the scoreboard and the momentum. WSU had made just one field goal in that stretch, and their offense looked stuck in mud.
At one point, their win probability - according to KenPom - dropped to 14.7% with 9:47 left. That’s the kind of number that usually signals a quiet bus ride home.
But instead of folding, the Cougars responded with a 24-4 avalanche that turned the game on its head. Suddenly, WSU was up 61-49, thanks to a mix of defensive stops, timely free throws, and a spark from Rihards Vavers, who once again showed why he's becoming a go-to guy in crunch time.
Portland made a late push, knocking down some desperation threes and benefiting from a few tight whistles, but never had the ball with a chance to tie. WSU’s defense held firm when it mattered most.
David Riley’s Take: Defense Travels
After the game, head coach David Riley didn’t sugarcoat the offensive struggles, especially in the second half. But he was quick to credit his team’s defensive effort, which kept them in the game when the shots weren’t falling.
“There were a lot of ups and downs in that game,” Riley said. “But I thought our defense was consistent until maybe the last minute or so. We stuck to the game plan, protected the rim, and that’s what wins games on the road in conference play.”
Offensively, Riley noted the team’s over-reliance on three-point shots in the first half - 14 attempts from deep compared to just 11 inside the arc. While the looks were there, the Cougars struggled to get downhill when the perimeter shots weren’t falling, something Riley pointed to as a growth area.
A Little Help from the Stands
It didn’t hurt that the Chiles Center had a splash of crimson in the stands. Cougar fans made their presence felt, with audible “Go Cougs” chants echoing during key moments - including right before Vavers gave WSU the lead for good. Portland has long been a hotbed for WSU alumni, and once again, they showed up.
Three Straight, But Work to Do
The win marked WSU’s third straight - a modest streak, but already matching their second-longest from last season. With three more games before the Cougars face the WCC’s top-tier teams, there’s a real opportunity to extend this run. But consistency remains the key.
That mid-second half stretch - where Portland outscored WSU 18-3 - simply can’t happen against better opponents. Most of the WCC is more dangerous than Portland, and a cold spell like that could be fatal down the line.
Turning Point: A Technical Spark
The game’s momentum shifted on a pair of Portland miscues - both involving Garrett Nuckolls. First, he blocked a shot from ND Okafor and followed it with some extra words, earning a technical foul.
Ace Glass calmly sank both free throws. Then, minutes later, Nuckolls collided with Vavers on a closeout, sending the Latvian guard to the line for three more.
Vavers caught fire from there, scoring 10 points in the final 8:13.
Cougar Standouts
- Rihards Vavers once again lived up to his “Latvian Laser” nickname, leading the team with 13 points, plus three rebounds and two steals. He was the steadying presence WSU needed late.
- Ace Glass didn’t have it going from the field (1-of-8), but he made up for it at the stripe, going 9-of-10 and making the most of his trips to the line.
- Tomas Thrastarson brought toughness and timely scoring, finishing with 11 points and six boards.
- Eemeli Yalaho filled the stat sheet with seven points, nine rebounds, and four assists. He did, however, miss three free throws - more than he had all season to that point.
By the Numbers
- WSU held Portland to just 0.91 points per possession - another strong defensive showing.
- But the Cougars gave up a 20-6 edge in second-chance points and an 11-2 deficit in points off turnovers - areas Riley will no doubt circle in film study.
Bottom Line
This wasn’t a masterpiece. In fact, the first 10 minutes of the second half might’ve been the worst stretch of basketball WSU has played under Riley. But the Cougars adjusted, responded, and found a way to win - and in conference play, especially on the road, that’s what matters most.
At 1-0 in the WCC, WSU is off to the kind of start that builds confidence. But the road only gets tougher from here.
KenPom Watch
WSU moved up a spot in the KenPom rankings, jumping from No. 153 to No. 152. Vavers earned KenPom MVP honors for his late-game heroics.
What’s Next
The Cougars head to Seattle for a Tuesday showdown at Climate Pledge Arena against a red-hot Seattle U squad. The Redhawks are 11-2, ranked No. 110 in KenPom, and already have wins over Washington and Stanford. It’s a big early-season test - one that should give us a better read on just how far this Cougar team has come.
Also Notable
The WSU women’s team also opened WCC play with a win, edging Pepperdine 66-63 in Pullman. A good day all around for Cougar basketball.