WSU Puts Together Defensive Masterclass in Statement Win Over Seattle U
Washington State delivered its most complete defensive performance of the season on Tuesday night, locking down Seattle U in a 70-58 win that not only avenged a December loss but also pushed the Cougars to 10-13 on the season and back to .500 in WCC play at 5-5.
From the jump, WSU brought the energy. They opened with a 10-6 lead at the first media timeout, thanks to a pair of threes from Rihad Vavers and some strong finishes at the rim by ND. But while the Cougars were hot early, they also racked up three quick fouls-matching Seattle U’s physicality on the defensive end.
The Redhawks didn’t back down, responding with a 9-0 run that briefly flipped the momentum. That swing didn’t last long, though. Simon Hildebrandt stopped the bleeding with a smooth midrange jumper, and from that point on, WSU never trailed again.
Still, the early foul trouble was a concern. Seattle U was in the bonus with 12 minutes left in the first half, and some of WSU’s fouls were the kind coaches circle on film as “avoidable.”
But the Cougars’ offense was humming. With eight minutes left in the half, they were shooting a blistering 76% from the field and 57% from deep.
The only thing keeping the Redhawks in it? Turnovers.
WSU gave the ball away 12 times in the first half, which allowed Seattle U to take eight more shots despite shooting just 1-of-9 from three. That turnover bug kept the halftime score closer than it felt-36-30 in favor of the Cougs.
Rihad Vavers was the engine in the first half, pouring in 16 points on efficient shooting and showing his versatility with a couple of sharp backdoor cuts. Ace Glass, meanwhile, couldn’t buy a bucket early-0-for-4 from the field and 0-for-3 from distance-but that changed after the break.
Glass opened the second half with a clean look from beyond the arc to get on the board. But the pace slowed considerably.
Ten minutes into the second half, the score was just 46-42, with Seattle U edging the half 12-10. Both teams struggled to find rhythm, and for WSU, buckets were hard to come by.
Over a five-minute stretch, their only field goals were a tough Glass fadeaway and a lucky bounce on an Adria Rodriguez jumper that kissed the back iron, popped up, and dropped in.
Still, the Cougars found their separation. Glass knocked down a corner three to stretch the lead to 55-42, taking advantage of a cold stretch from Seattle U.
The Redhawks hit just their third triple of the night to cut it to 10, but WSU never really let them back in it. With four minutes to go, it was 58-46, and the Cougs calmly closed things out.
One thing worth noting: the officials kept the whistles busy. It wasn’t necessarily inconsistent, but the game was called tight from start to finish, which made it hard for either team to find a flow.
In terms of individual performances, it was a balanced, team-first effort. Okafor was rock solid, scoring 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting and pulling down eight rebounds.
Yalaho only had three points, but his nine boards were crucial in limiting second-chance opportunities. Glass rebounded from a scoreless first half to finish with 14, showing the kind of resilience you want from a veteran scorer.
But the night belonged to Vavers. He was lights out-8-of-10 from the field, 5-of-7 from deep-and played with poise and maturity.
He didn’t just score; he impacted the game on both ends, rebounding, defending, and making smart decisions with the ball. His growth as a two-way player is becoming a real asset for this team.
Defensively, this was WSU’s best showing of the season. The 58 points allowed were a season low, bettering their previous bests of 64 (in a loss to Bradley) and 62 (in a win over Portland).
The Redhawks were ice cold from deep, finishing just 3-of-21 from three-point range. Yes, Seattle U has struggled offensively in recent weeks-they’ve now dropped six of eight since beating WSU on December 30-but the Cougars still deserve credit for staying disciplined and contesting shots all night.
Seattle U did get to the line 17 times, but they couldn’t capitalize. Meanwhile, WSU shot a strong 55% from the field against a Redhawks defense that has been one of their strengths this season.
After the game, head coach David Riley pointed to composure as a key difference from the December meeting. Despite 19 turnovers, the Cougars never looked rattled.
Riley also highlighted a recent stretch where WSU’s defensive metrics ranked among the nation’s best, even as the offense sputtered. Tuesday night, they finally put both ends together.
This performance felt like a return to form for a WSU team that had dropped four straight earlier in the month. If they can keep this level of balance-efficient offense, connected defense-they’ll be a tough out down the stretch.
Up next: a chance to build momentum. The Cougars host the University of Portland this Saturday at Beasley Coliseum, looking to extend their win streak to three. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. on ESPN+.