Cougars Claw but Golden Bears Edge Out in Overtime at Haas Pavilion

In a closely contested battle at Haas Pavilion, the Washington State Cougars faced off against the California Golden Bears, with both teams eager to tip the scales in their favor. The Cougars, unranked and determined, entered the game with a record of 0-0, while their opponents also held an unblemished record. After an intense overtime period that had fans on the edge of their seats, it was the Golden Bears who narrowly secured victory with a final score of 73-72.

The game began with the Cougars trailing in the first quarter by seven points but they rallied back fiercely in the second quarter scoring 23 points to close out halftime on a high note. The third quarter saw them continue this momentum by adding another 22 points to their tally. However, despite leading for significant stretches and tying up six times throughout regulation play as well as witnessing twelve lead changes, they could not maintain this advantage through to overtime.

The Washington State team showcased commendable accuracy from both field goal range and free throw line shooting at 41 percent and an impressive 91 percent respectively. They were also able to convert four out of eleven attempts from beyond three-point range which amounted to a solid 36 percent success rate.

Defensively speaking, Washington State made its presence felt under both baskets pulling down a total of thirty-five rebounds – twenty-eight personal rebounds complemented by seven team rebounds – while also registering six blocks and six steals over California's two blocks and three steals. Despite these efforts though they fell just short as California managed slightly better efficiency inside painting scoring thirty-six points compared to Washington State's thirty-two.

A standout statistic for Washington State was their free throw performance where they made twenty out of twenty-two attempts showcasing nerves of steel when it mattered most. This coupled with securing eleven points off turnovers demonstrated that even under pressure they could execute effectively.

Looking ahead after this nail-biting encounter is another challenging matchup for Washington State Cougars as they prepare to visit Alaska Airlines Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion on January 14th against local rivals -the Washington Huskies-. Fans can catch all action live on Pac-12 Network starting at noon Pacific Time ensuring no one misses what promises be another exciting chapter in college basketball.