SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — San Francisco edged Washington State 85-80 in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Sunday at War Memorial Gymnasium. The Dons improved to 13-8 overall behind a balanced attack. Junjie Wang scored 15 points, Guillermo Diaz Graham added 14 and Ryan Beasley had 13 points and six assists. The Cougars (8-12) were led by Eemeli Yalaho’s 21 points and Ace Glass III’s 20. San Francisco led 48-44 at halftime and maintained a narrow advantage throughout the second half. Washington State closed within a single possession multiple times, but key late baskets from Diaz Graham and Beasley secured the victory for the Dons before an announced crowd of 2,182.

SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and resilience, the San Francisco Dons held off a persistent Washington State team for an 85-80 victory in a nonconference men’s basketball game Sunday at a packed War Memorial Gymnasium. A crowd of 2,182 saw the Dons (13-8) use a late first-half surge to build a cushion and then withstand multiple second-half charges from the Cougars (8-12) to secure the win. The game, organized by the West Coast Conference, featured 10 lead changes and was tied on six occasions, but San Francisco never trailed in the final 17 minutes. The most critical sequence of the contest came in the final 90 seconds, with San Francisco clinging to a 79-76 lead. Washington State guard Ace Glass III, who finished with 20 points, committed a costly turnover when Ryan Beasley stripped the ball near midcourt with 1:44 remaining. The Dons capitalized on the ensuing possession, as David Fuchs missed a layup but followed his own shot for a tip-in to push the lead to five. On the next Cougars trip, Jerone Morton’s pass was intercepted by Guillermo Diaz Graham, leading to a transition dunk by Legend Smiley off a Vukasin Masic assist that extended the San Francisco advantage to 83-76 with just 20 seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome. The Dons were propelled by a balanced and international scoring effort. Junjie Wang, a forward from Xuzhou, China, led the team with 15 points, all in the first half, including three 3-pointers that helped establish an early rhythm. Guillermo Diaz Graham, a 7-foot center from Spain’s Canary Islands, added 14 points, while Ryan Beasley of San Ramon, California, chipped in 13 points and six assists, including two clinching free throws with three seconds remaining. Washington State was carried by the standout performance of Finnish forward Eemeli Yalaho. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Jyvaskyla scored a game-high 21 points, showcasing an inside-out game with a dunk, layups and a 3-pointer. He was supported by Glass’s 20 points and 14 points from Irish big man ND Okafor. San Francisco built its winning margin in the latter stages of the first half. After Washington State took a 44-41 lead on a Yalaho 3-pointer with 2:27 left, the Dons closed the period on a 7-0 run. The spurt included a 3-pointer from Veniamin Abosi and four consecutive free throws from Diaz Graham and Saba Gigiberia, sending the Dons into halftime with a 48-44 lead they would not relinquish. The Cougars fought back repeatedly in the second half, cutting the deficit to a single possession on several occasions. A Yalaho dunk off a Parker Gerrits steal brought Washington State within 57-56 with 12:15 to play. Later, a Jerone Morton 3-pointer made it 76-74 with 2:31 remaining. Each time, San Francisco had an answer, often from Diaz Graham or Masic, who finished with nine points and six assists. San Francisco’s ball movement and defensive pressure proved decisive. The Dons assisted on 20 of their 32 made field goals and forced 15 Washington State turnovers, converting them into 19 points. The Cougars, meanwhile, managed only eight assists and struggled to find consistent offense outside of their top scorers. The victory improved San Francisco’s record at War Memorial Gymnasium to 9-2 this season. The Dons, who were installed as 5.5-point favorites pregame, outperformed the spread, while the combined total of 165 points sailed over the over/under line of 143.5. Washington State, which has lost three of its last four games, continues a challenging stretch of West Coast Conference play. The Cougars travel to face San Diego on Wednesday. San Francisco, which has won two straight, prepares for a pivotal conference showdown at Gonzaga next Saturday.

SAN FRANCISCO (Interstat) — The San Francisco Dons, looking to rebound from a home loss, will host the Washington State Cougars in a nonconference men’s basketball game organized by the West Coast on Sunday at War Memorial Gymnasium. The Dons (12-8) enter having lost two of their last three, including an 82-68 defeat to Saint Mary’s on Tuesday. They will be tested by a Washington State team (8-11) seeking to end a two-game skid after an 86-65 loss to Gonzaga on Thursday. San Francisco is led by guard Tyrone Riley, who is coming off a 16-point performance against Saint Mary’s. Riley has been a consistent scorer, averaging 12.4 points over his last seven games and posting 22 points in a win over San Diego on Jan. 2. His backcourt pairing with Ryan Beasley, who had 15 points and seven assists against the Gaels, will be key for the Dons’ offense. Washington State will counter with forward Simon Hildebrandt, who matched a career-high with 16 points in the loss to Gonzaga. Hildebrandt’s scoring punch off the bench provides a boost for a Cougars team that also features Ace Glass III and Jerone Morton, who each added 16 points in the last outing. The Cougars have struggled on the road this season, with recent losses at Saint Mary’s and Seattle. Their last road win was a 67-62 victory at Portland on Dec. 28. San Francisco has been strong at home, boasting a 7-3 record at War Memorial Gymnasium this season, including notable wins over Portland and San Diego to open West Coast Conference play. Historically, the programs have met sporadically, with this matchup serving as a final tune-up before both resume their respective conference schedules. Washington State will travel to face San Diego next Wednesday, while San Francisco prepares for a pivotal road game at Gonzaga on Jan. 24. Tipoff is set for Sunday afternoon. The game will be a test of resilience for both squads as they navigate the second half of their seasons.