Portland Pilots Defeat Washington State Cougars 74-68
Friday, March 6, 2026, 9:00 PM ET · Orleans Arena
Portland Pilots 74, Washington State Cougars 68, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Portland Pilots vs Washington State Cougars?
Portland Pilots beat Washington State Cougars 74-68 at Orleans Arena on March 6, 2026.
Who was favored in Portland Pilots vs Washington State Cougars?
Washington State Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -245 (about 71% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Portland Pilots triumphed over the Washington State Cougars with a final score of 74-68 at the Orleans Arena. This victory marks the Pilots' second consecutive win, improving their record to 15-18, while the Cougars fell to 12-20, extending their losing streak to four games. The Pilots have shown resilience in recent performances, averaging 68.2 points scored and allowing 77.9 points over their last ten games. In contrast, the Cougars have struggled, averaging 77.7 points scored and 77.2 points allowed during the same stretch.
The Pilots' recent form has been characterized by a strong finish to the season, with their last two games resulting in victories, including a notable win against Pepperdine Waves just a day prior to this matchup. They have fared better at home, holding a 4-1 record in their last five home games, but have struggled on the road with an away record of 0-5. The Cougars, on the other hand, have been unable to find their footing, particularly in their last five games where they recorded a 1-4 record, averaging 70.4 points scored and 78.2 points allowed.
Historically, the Cougars have dominated the recent head-to-head meetings, winning all four of their last encounters against the Pilots, including a decisive 104-74 victory on January 31, 2026. However, the Pilots managed to turn the tables in this latest clash, showcasing their determination to break the streak. The matchup was marked by significant scoring plays, including a critical three-point jumper by Jerone Morton that helped maintain the Pilots' lead in the second half.
In terms of injuries, the block does not provide specific details, but both teams have had to navigate challenges throughout the season. The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Cougars favored by 5.5 points, with a total set at 149.5. The odds indicated a home moneyline of -245 for Washington State and +200 for Portland, reflecting the expectations leading into the game.
The conditions in the Orleans Arena were conducive to an exciting game, with a competitive atmosphere that likely fueled both teams. Viewers were treated to a display of skill and determination, with the Pilots capitalizing on their opportunities and executing key plays down the stretch to secure the win. As the season progresses, both teams will look to build on this game, with the Pilots aiming to continue their winning momentum and the Cougars seeking to regroup and find their rhythm.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WSU -5.5 | 149.5 o -115 / u -105 | Portland Pilots +200 · Washington State Cougars -245 |
Leaders
- PointsAce Glass19Washington State Cougars
- AssistsAce Glass5Washington State Cougars
- ReboundsND Okafor6Washington State Cougars
- PointsGarrett Nuckolls23Portland Pilots
- AssistsJoel Foxwell5Portland Pilots
- ReboundsJermaine Ballisager Webb12Portland Pilots
Recent form
Washington State Cougars
Last 10: 4-6Streak L377.7 scored · 77.2 allowed per game4-2 at home
- L79-88at Pepperdine WavesMar 1
- L66-67at Loyola Marymount LionsFeb 26
- L67-83vs Saint Mary's GaelsFeb 22
- W87-70vs Pacific TigersFeb 19
- L53-83at Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 11
- L92-96vs Santa Clara BroncosFeb 7
- L64-74at Oregon State BeaversFeb 5
- W104-74vs Portland PilotsJan 31
- W70-58vs Seattle U RedhawksJan 29
- W95-79vs Pepperdine WavesJan 24
Portland Pilots
Last 10: 4-6Streak W268.2 scored · 77.9 allowed per game0-5 away
- W77-68vs Pepperdine WavesMar 6
- W87-74vs San Diego TorerosFeb 28
- L48-89at Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 26
- L59-71at Seattle U RedhawksFeb 22
- L87-95vs Pepperdine WavesFeb 19
- L58-71at San Diego TorerosFeb 12
- W54-53vs Seattle U RedhawksFeb 8
- W87-80vs Gonzaga BulldogsFeb 5
- L74-104at Washington State CougarsJan 31
- L51-74at Pacific TigersJan 29
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga | 31-4 | - | 16-2 |
| Saint Mary's | 27-6 | - | 16-2 |
| Santa Clara | 26-9 | 1 | 15-3 |
| Oregon State | 17-16 | 7 | 9-9 |
| Seattle U | 21-14 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Pacific | 18-15 | 8 | 8-10 |
| San Francisco | 17-16 | 8 | 8-10 |
| Washington State | 12-20 | 9 | 7-11 |
| Loyola Marymount | 15-17 | 10 | 6-12 |
| Portland | 15-19 | 10 | 6-12 |
| San Diego | 12-21 | 11 | 5-13 |
| Pepperdine | 9-23 | 12 | 4-14 |
Box score
| Stat | Portland Pilots | Washington State Cougars |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 26-55 | 25-66 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 38 |
| Three-pointers | 4-15 | 9-31 |
| Three-point % | 27 | 29 |
| Free throws | 18-21 | 9-11 |
| Free throw % | 86 | 82 |
| Rebounds | 38 | 34 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 32 | 26 |
| Assists | 13 | 21 |
| Steals | 1 | 6 |
| Blocks | 5 | 0 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 4 | 16 |
| Fast-break points | 10 | 12 |
| Points in the paint | 36 | 28 |
| Fouls | 11 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 11 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 6 | 6 |
| Time in front | 58 | 29 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half37-36Garrett Nuckolls makes layup (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half40-36Joel Foxwell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Dante Censori-Hercules assists)
- 2nd Half42-36Garrett Nuckolls makes 15-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half42-37Tomas Thrastarson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half42-38Tomas Thrastarson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-41Ace Glass makes 25-foot three point jumper (Jerone Morton assists)
- 2nd Half44-41Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes layup
- 2nd Half47-41Jermaine Ballisager Webb makes 24-foot three point jumper (Garrett Nuckolls assists)
- 2nd Half47-43Jerone Morton makes 15-foot turnaround jump shot (Simon Hildebrandt assists)
- 2nd Half47-44Rihards Vavers makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half47-45Rihards Vavers makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half47-46Rihards Vavers makes free throw 3 of 3
- 2nd Half49-46Joel Foxwell makes 16-foot floating jump shot (James O'Donnell assists)
- 2nd Half49-48ND Okafor makes 2-foot dunk (Ace Glass assists)
- 2nd Half52-48Mikah Ballew makes 25-foot three point jumper (Joel Foxwell assists)
- 2nd Half52-51Jerone Morton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ace Glass assists)
- 2nd Half53-51Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-51Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half56-51James O'Donnell makes layup (Mikah Ballew assists)
- 2nd Half56-53Ace Glass makes layup (Jerone Morton assists)
- 2nd Half58-53Mikah Ballew makes 13-foot floating jump shot
- 2nd Half60-53Dante Censori-Hercules makes layup (Garrett Nuckolls assists)
- 2nd Half62-53Garrett Nuckolls makes 6-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half62-55Ace Glass makes driving layup
- 2nd Half64-55Mikah Ballew makes 17-foot pullup jump shot (James O'Donnell assists)
- 2nd Half64-57ND Okafor makes layup (Ace Glass assists)
- 2nd Half65-57Joel Foxwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-57Joel Foxwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half67-57Joel Foxwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half68-57Joel Foxwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-60Ace Glass makes 27-foot three point jumper (Jerone Morton assists)
- 2nd Half69-60Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-60Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-62Eemeli Yalaho makes layup (Adria Rodriguez assists)
- 2nd Half71-62Mikah Ballew makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half71-65Jerone Morton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Tomas Thrastarson assists)
- 2nd Half72-65Joel Foxwell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-65Joel Foxwell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half73-68Eemeli Yalaho makes 25-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half74-68Garrett Nuckolls makes free throw 1 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Washington State Cougars, below favours Portland Pilots.
Venue
- Orleans ArenaLas Vegas, NV
- Attendance1890
- OfficialsDeldre Carr, Kelly Pfeifer, Tommy Johnson
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