Oscar Cluff’s Career-High 20 Points Leads Washington State to a 65-58 Win Over Oregon State

Thursday, January 4

Pullman, WA

8:00 PM

Washington State University

10-4,1-2Pac-12

Oregon State

9-5,1-2Pac-12

Oregon St.

Washington St.

Photo by: Shelly Hanks/WSU Photo Services

Oscar Cluff’s Career-High 20 Points Leads Washington State to a 65-58 Win Over Oregon State

January 04, 2024 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score

By: Hayden Wysup, WSU Athletics

PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington State won in close fashion, 65-58, over Oregon State Thursday night in Pullman, Wash. This is Washington State's first Pac-12 win of the season and improves its record to 10-4.

Oscar Cluff led the way for the Cougars, coming off the bench with a career-high 20 points, as well as grabbing eight rebounds and three blocks. Head Coach Kyle Smith had high praise after Cluff's career night. "He's just starting to figure out how good he can be."

Andrej Jakimovski also had a good performance, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds. This is the second game in which Jakimovski found his shot from behind the arc. Tonight, he nailed four 3-pointers, and in the past two games is shooting 8-14 from three.

Washington State entered tonight coming off two road losses to open their Pac-12 play and was looking to get its first conference win.

The Cougars recovered from a slow start, shooting 29% from the field during the opening five minutes, and trailed Oregon State, 11-4. Oregon State continued to extend their lead as WSU couldn't escape its shooting slump. Washington State shot just 18% from the field in the opening ten minutes of the game. However, with 5:18 left to play in the first half, Myles Rice found Oscar Cluff in the post for a layup to cut Oregon State's lead to just two with WSU trailing 16-18.

Oregon State ended the first half leading Washington State, 24-21. Both defenses played well as Oregon State was held to 31% shooting from the field and Washington State to just 25%. Oscar Cluff led the way for Washington State off the bench, finishing the half with nine points and six rebounds. Washington State's star-duo Issac Jones and Myles Rice were held scoreless in the first half, with Rice attempting his first field goal with 1:11 left in the first half. Jordan Pope finished with Oregon State's team-high nine points.

Cluff continued to find his shot early in the second half, scoring on three-straight possessions to tie the game at 28-28. With 15:58 left in the game, Kymany Houinsou found Cluff in transition for a slam, giving WSU a 30-28 lead - the first of the game. Despite not making a three in the first half, the Cougs heated up from behind the arc. With 10:39 left to play in the game Andrej Jakimovski drilled a three to extend Washington State's lead to 46-37.

When Oregon State needed offense in the second half, they looked to KC Ibekwe, who scored seven points in just a minute and a half of game time. With 6:15 left to play, Ibekwe got to the basket again and made a shot to put Oregon State within four and WSU leading, 49-45. Despite OSU's attempts at leading a comeback, Washington State kept stringing together offense to keep its lead. With 32 seconds left, Jaylen Wells pulled up from mid-range and sunk an and-one, extending the lead to 63-56 and sealing the game.

Despite a sluggish first half from both teams, Washington State rallied and got the win. Cluff and Rice combined for 23 points in the second half and Washington State shot 70% from the field.

Washington State wins in a comeback win 65-58 and secures its first Pac-12 win of the season. Washington State improves to 10-4, Oregon State drops to 9-5. Washington State will take on Oregon this Saturday for its fourth Pac-12 game of the season.