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Santa Clara pulls away late to beat Washington State 96-92
Cougars' Eemeli Yalaho scores 21 points in losing effort
Published on Feb. 7, 2026
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In a high-scoring affair, Santa Clara used a 21-11 run early in the second half to pull away from Washington State, holding on for a 96-92 victory. The Broncos improved to 21-5 overall and 12-1 in West Coast Conference play, while the Cougars dropped to 11-15 and 6-7 in conference. Eemeli Yalaho led WSU with 21 points, but it wasn't enough to overcome Santa Clara's balanced attack, led by Allen Graves' 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Why it matters
This loss is another setback for Washington State, which has struggled to find consistency this season. The Cougars have shown flashes of potential but have been unable to get over the hump against top competition in the WCC. Meanwhile, Santa Clara continues to cement its status as one of the top teams in the conference, improving its NCAA Tournament resume.
The details
After the teams went into halftime tied at 49-49, Santa Clara opened the second half on a 21-11 run to take control of the game. The Cougars were able to cut the deficit to just one point, 85-84, with 3:01 remaining, but the Broncos held on down the stretch. Santa Clara shot an impressive 56.1% from the field, including 40.9% from three-point range, while WSU shot 54.1% overall and 52% from deep.
- The second-half run by Santa Clara came over the opening 7:15 of the period.
The players
Eemeli Yalaho
The leading scorer for Washington State, pouring in 21 points in the losing effort.
Allen Graves
The standout performer for Santa Clara, recording a game-high 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Adria Rodriguez
The WSU senior scored 10 points and added 4 assists, 3 rebounds and a steal.
Ace Glass
The Cougars' second-leading scorer with 20 points, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer to end the first half.
David Riley
The Washington State head coach, who expressed frustration with his team's defensive performance in allowing 96 points at home.
What they’re saying
“We have got to get over the top. We have got to start winning these games. Giving up 96 points at home is too much. We have got to get better.”
— David Riley, Washington State Head Coach (Bellingham Herald)
“We have got to take care of the little stuff. Then just finishing plays.”
— Eemeli Yalaho (Bellingham Herald)
“We have got to lock in on both sides and play a full 40 minutes. I feel like we have played a lot of 30, 35-minute games.”
— Ace Glass (Bellingham Herald)
What’s next
The Cougars will look to bounce back on Saturday when they host Gonzaga, another top team in the WCC.
The takeaway
This loss highlights the challenges Washington State has faced in trying to compete with the elite teams in the West Coast Conference. While the Cougars have shown flashes of potential, their inability to put together a complete 40-minute effort has been their downfall against the conference's best opponents.
