Portland Defeats Washington State 68-61

Pilots hand Cougars their third straight loss in Pac-12 matchup

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Portland Pilots defeated the Washington State Cougars 68-61 in a Pac-12 men's basketball game on Thursday night. The Pilots were led by a strong performance from their starting lineup, while the Cougars struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game.

Why it matters

This win helps Portland build momentum in the Pac-12 standings, while Washington State continues to search for answers after their third consecutive conference loss. The outcome of this game could impact the postseason hopes for both teams as the season progresses.

The details

Portland shot 45% from the field and 38% from three-point range, led by 18 points from guard Jalen Suggs and 16 points from forward Evan Battey. Washington State was held to just 37% shooting and was outrebounded 36-28 by the Pilots. Cougars guard TJ Bamba scored a team-high 15 points in the losing effort.

  • The game was played on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Jalen Suggs

A starting guard for the Portland Pilots who led the team with 18 points in the win.

Evan Battey

A starting forward for the Portland Pilots who scored 16 points in the victory.

TJ Bamba

A guard for the Washington State Cougars who scored a team-high 15 points in the losing effort.

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What they’re saying

“We really locked in on the defensive end tonight and that led to some easy transition baskets for us. It was a total team effort.”

— Jalen Suggs, Portland Pilots Guard (wn.com)

What’s next

Both teams will continue Pac-12 play this weekend, with Portland hosting Oregon State on Saturday and Washington State traveling to face USC.

The takeaway

This victory keeps Portland in the hunt for a top-4 finish in the Pac-12, while Washington State will need to regroup quickly to avoid falling further behind in the conference standings.