San Diego Toreros Edge Washington State Cougars in Thriller
Wednesday, January 21, 2026, 9:30 PM ET · Jenny Craig Pavilion
San Diego Toreros 96, Washington State Cougars 92, 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 Washington State Cougars vs San Diego Toreros?
San Diego Toreros beat Washington State Cougars 96-92 at Jenny Craig Pavilion on January 21, 2026.
Who was favored in Washington State Cougars vs San Diego Toreros?
Washington State Cougars were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -122 (about 55% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested game, the San Diego Toreros triumphed over the Washington State Cougars with a final score of 96-92. This victory marks a significant achievement for the Toreros, who had previously struggled against the Cougars, losing their last two meetings. The game took place at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, where the Toreros have shown resilience, particularly in their recent home performances.
San Diego entered the matchup with a home record of 9-12 and had been displaying a mixed bag of results lately. In their last ten games, they recorded a 4-6 record, with their most recent game resulting in a decisive win against the Bethesda Flames, where they scored an impressive 113 points. They averaged 76.1 points scored per game while allowing 77.3 points over this stretch. Their last five games showed a slight improvement, with an average of 80.0 points scored and 76.0 points allowed, which reflects their ability to find offensive rhythm at home.
On the other side, the Cougars came into the game with an 8-13 overall record, having struggled recently with a 5-5 record in their last ten games but entering the game on a three-game losing streak. Their scoring average stood at 73.1 points, with 74.2 points allowed. Their last five games saw them average 77.2 points scored but a concerning 80.4 points allowed, indicating defensive vulnerabilities that San Diego capitalized on.
Historically, the Toreros had faced the Cougars twice in the previous season, losing both encounters. The most recent meeting prior to this game was on February 28, 2025, where San Diego fell 86-93. This context added an extra layer of significance to the matchup, as the Toreros aimed to break their losing streak against Washington State.
In terms of injuries, there were no specific mentions in the block, suggesting both teams may have had their full rosters available for the game. This was crucial as both teams needed their key players to perform at their best to secure a win.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had Washington State favored by 1.5 points, with a total set at 152.5. The odds reflected a competitive outlook on the game, with the home money line at +102 and the away money line at -122, indicating a slight preference for the Cougars despite their recent form.
The conditions of the game were typical for a college basketball matchup, with the venue providing a strong home-court advantage for San Diego. The atmosphere at the Jenny Craig Pavilion was likely charged, adding to the intensity of the contest.
As the game unfolded, viewers witnessed a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Key moments included Rihards Vavers and Gavin Ripp making crucial free throws in the closing minutes, while Ace Glass showcased his shooting ability with a step-back three-pointer that kept the Cougars within striking distance. Ultimately, the Toreros' ability to convert free throws in the final moments secured their victory, showcasing their composure under pressure.
This game not only provided a much-needed win for San Diego but also highlighted areas of concern for Washington State, particularly on the defensive end. As both teams look to build on this game, the Toreros will aim to continue their momentum, while the Cougars will need to address their recent struggles to turn their season around.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | WSU -1.5 | 152.5 o -112 / u -108 | Washington State Cougars -122 · San Diego Toreros +102 |
Leaders
- PointsTy-Laur Johnson28San Diego Toreros
- AssistsTy-Laur Johnson7San Diego Toreros
- ReboundsAssane Diop7San Diego Toreros
- PointsAce Glass29Washington State Cougars
- AssistsAdria Rodriguez5Washington State Cougars
- ReboundsAce Glass7Washington State Cougars
Recent form
San Diego Toreros
Last 10: 4-6Streak W176.1 scored · 77.3 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W113-67vs Bethesda FlamesJan 17
- L64-75at Seattle U RedhawksJan 16
- L70-77at Pacific TigersJan 11
- W83-63vs Pepperdine WavesJan 9
- L70-98at Santa Clara BroncosJan 5
- L64-74at San Francisco DonsJan 3
- L93-99vs Gonzaga BulldogsDec 31
- W66-54vs Pacific TigersDec 28
- L56-86at Washington HuskiesDec 23
- W82-80at UC San Diego TritonsDec 20
Washington State Cougars
Last 10: 5-5Streak L373.1 scored · 74.2 allowed per game2-4 away
- L80-85at San Francisco DonsJan 19
- L65-86vs Gonzaga BulldogsJan 16
- L82-88at Saint Mary's GaelsJan 10
- W81-67vs Oregon State BeaversJan 5
- W78-76vs Loyola Marymount LionsJan 3
- L55-69at Seattle U RedhawksDec 31
- W67-62at Portland PilotsDec 28
- W84-78vs Mercer BearsDec 20
- W78-63at Eastern Washington EaglesDec 18
- L61-68at USC TrojansDec 15
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 | Washington State Cougars | San Diego Toreros |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-64 | 37-71 |
| Field goal % | 48 | 52 |
| Three-pointers | 9-26 | 15-28 |
| Three-point % | 35 | 54 |
| Free throws | 21-25 | 7-13 |
| Free throw % | 84 | 54 |
| Rebounds | 34 | 36 |
| Offensive rebounds | 14 | 15 |
| Defensive rebounds | 20 | 21 |
| Assists | 16 | 25 |
| Steals | 4 | 6 |
| Blocks | 5 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 10 | 6 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 6 | 13 |
| Fast-break points | 11 | 18 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 38 |
| Fouls | 14 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 3 | 18 |
| Lead changes | 3 | 3 |
| Time in front | 6 | 93 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half55-65Ty-Laur Johnson makes layup
- 2nd Half55-66Ty-Laur Johnson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half58-66Ace Glass makes 24-foot three pointer
- 2nd Half58-69Toneari Lane makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ty-Laur Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half60-69Emmanuel Ugbo makes 4-foot turnaround jump shot (Adria Rodriguez assists)
- 2nd Half62-69Adria Rodriguez makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half62-71Ty-Laur Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half62-73Ty-Laur Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half63-73Eemeli Yalaho makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half64-73Eemeli Yalaho makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half64-76Vuk Boskovic makes 24-foot three point jumper (Gavin Ripp assists)
- 2nd Half64-78Ty-Laur Johnson makes driving layup
- 2nd Half65-78ND Okafor makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half66-78ND Okafor makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half66-80Ty-Laur Johnson makes 12-foot pullup jump shot (Adrian McIntyre assists)
- 2nd Half68-80Ace Glass makes 16-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half70-80Rihards Vavers makes layup
- 2nd Half70-81Assane Diop makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-81Ace Glass makes driving layup
- 2nd Half72-84Vuk Boskovic makes 29-foot three point jumper (Juanse Gorosito assists)
- 2nd Half73-84Jerone Morton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half74-84Jerone Morton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half76-84Jerone Morton makes driving layup (Rihards Vavers assists)
- 2nd Half76-86Ty-Laur Johnson makes 13-foot step back jumpshot (Vuk Boskovic assists)
- 2nd Half78-86Ace Glass makes layup
- 2nd Half79-86Ace Glass makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half79-89Juanse Gorosito makes 23-foot three point jumper (Ty-Laur Johnson assists)
- 2nd Half81-89Ace Glass makes 18-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half83-89ND Okafor makes layup
- 2nd Half83-92Gavin Ripp makes 24-foot three point jumper (Juanse Gorosito assists)
- 2nd Half84-92Jerone Morton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half85-92Jerone Morton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half86-92Rihards Vavers makes free throw 1 of 3
- 2nd Half87-92Rihards Vavers makes free throw 2 of 3
- 2nd Half87-93Gavin Ripp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half87-94Gavin Ripp makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half90-94Ace Glass makes 24-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half92-94ND Okafor makes layup (Ace Glass assists)
- 2nd Half92-95Gavin Ripp makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half92-96Gavin Ripp makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours San Diego Toreros, below favours Washington State Cougars.
Venue
- Jenny Craig PavilionSan Diego, CA
- Attendance855
- OfficialsJohn Hampton, Gary Maxwell, Layne Barney
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond