Cougars' second-half collapse costs them chance to gain ground in WCC

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The Washington State Cougars had a golden opportunity to gain ground in the West Coast Conference standings on Wednesday night, leading Oregon State by as much as 17 points in the second half. However, the Beavers stormed back, outscoring the Cougars 51-30 in the final 16 minutes to pull off the comeback victory, 74-64. The loss leaves WSU in a four-way tie for fourth place in the WCC standings.

Why it matters

This was a crucial game for the Cougars, who were looking to capitalize on upsets elsewhere in the conference and solidify their position in the WCC standings. Instead, the collapse against Oregon State leaves them in a precarious position, tied for the fourth and final first-round bye in the conference tournament. The seeding in the WCC tournament could be the difference between WSU only needing to win three games to reach the NCAA Tournament or having to win four.

The details

The Cougars controlled the game early, building a 17-point lead in the second half behind strong defense and timely three-point shooting. However, the Beavers mounted a furious comeback, going on multiple big runs to erase the deficit and eventually pull away for the 10-point win. WSU's offense went cold, going from a hot-shooting first half to empty possessions and turnovers in the second half as Oregon State shot 53.1% from the field after halftime.

• The Cougars led by as much as 17 points in the second half.
• Over the final 16:49, the Beavers outscored the Cougars 47-20.

What’s next

The Cougars will return home on Saturday to welcome in the now WCC-leading Santa Clara Broncos.