The Cougars failed to take care of the basketball and it led to their demise Saturday in Santa Clara.

WSU fell to 4-6 on the season Saturday night as they lost 76-67 to Santa Clara (5-4). It was a frustrating game for the Cougars as they turned the ball over 13 times, including nine times in the first half, which Santa Clara turned into 12 points.

Head Coach Ernie Kent told Bud Nameck after the game on 920 KXLY that those mistakes can’t happen.

“There are going to be turnovers,” Kent said. “These were unforced. Those are bonehead, unforced turnovers because they shouldn’t happen in a game with a team with the caliber of players we have.”

Sophomore forward Josh Hawkinson led the Cougars offensive output as he scored 16 points and came down with a career-high 16 rebounds. Hawkinson also emerged as one of the Cougars’ best offensive players, netting his fifth double-double of the season.

Sophomore guard Ike Iroegbu continued his stretch of productive performances, leading the Cougars with 18 points while going 7-9 from the field. He also added four assists.

Senior guard DaVonté Lacy struggled as he was held to just nine on a dismal 2-12 shooting performance. He failed to reach double digits in scoring for just the second time this season.

A big reason for the Cougars’ lack of success came from their poor shooting from three-point range. WSU shot a lowly 22 percent from beyond the arc against the Broncos.

“We had shots to be made, and we didn’t shoot the ball very well.” Kent said.

Santa Clara shot 51 percent from the field and were led by their guards, sophomore Jared Brownridge and senior Brandon Clark. Brownridge finished with 25 points and four assists, while Clark scored 19 points on 6-11 shooting.

The Cougars dominated the glass, securing 39 rebounds to Santa Clara’s 22. However, it was again the turnovers that caused WSU to beat themselves. The Cougs shot a respectable 45 percent from the floor, but without Hawkinson and Iroegbu, the team only shot a combined 35 percent.

WSU will go into the holiday break with two games remaining in their non-conference schedule before entering Pac-12 play. The Cougars host San Jose State on the 21st and will see UC Davis come into town the following week on the 28th.

The Cougars will have to win both games in order to enter the Pac-12 season with a .500 record. WSU will tip-off at 4 p.m. on Sunday against the Spartans (2-9). The Pac-12 Networks will carry coverage of the game.

Reporting by William Cheshier