SEATTLE – The Washington State men's basketball team (6-9, 1-1) lost to Seattle U, 55-69, Tuesday night at Climate Pledge Arena, dropping its first loss of West Coast Conference play. WSU suffered its worst shooting night of the season, despite grabbing its most rebounds in nearly 30 years.
 
The Cougars made 19 field goals, their fewest of the season, despite holding the Redhawks to just 20 field goals. WSU got off to a hot start, leading 14-13 with just over nine minutes remaining in the opening period before Seattle U outscored WSU 23-8 to close the period. The Redhawks used an 8-0 run in the final minute to take a double-digit halftime lead. The Cougars scored a season-low 22 first-half points.
 
Despite the loss, Washington State's ND Okafor recorded his first career double-double with 11 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Okafor also recorded three blocks, his 10th-consecutive game with a rejection. The Cougars grabbed a season-high 54 rebounds, the most by a WSU team in a single-game since 1997. Despite the rebounding advantage, the Cougars made just four 3-pointers and had their worst shooting performance of the season, finishing 29.7% from the floor and 14.8% from beyond the arc.
 
Early in the second half, the Cougars used an 8-0 run and pulled within five points as freshman Ace Glass delivered a straight-away 3-pointer. However, Seattle U went on an 8-2 run to regain the double-digit lead. With six minutes remaining Wazzu pulled within four points, but the Redhawks used a 6-0 run over the next two minutes to clinch the win, the first over WSU in Seattle since 1977. Glass led the Cougars in scoring with 13 points, his 11th double-digit performance in the last 12 games.

The Cougars missed their first six free throws of the second half and started the stanza just 1-of-9 from the charity stripe. WSU finished 13-of-23 at the free throw line after Tomas Thrastarson started the game 5-of-6. Thrastarson subbed out late in the first half and did not return.
 
Washington State returns home to host its first West Coast Conference game Friday, January 2 at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars will welcome Loyola Marymount for a 6:30 p.m. tip off from Friel Court and live on ESPN+.