This Pacific Northwest matchup contained in the McCarthey Athletic Center obtained out of hand rapidly, due to the round the clock defensive stress placed on by the No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs (24-2, 12-1 WCC). Coach Mark Few’s group held the Washington State Cougars (11-16, 6-8 WCC) to a season-low in factors whereas scoring 31 factors off 21 pressured turnovers, which included 13 steals and 5 blocks. They sacrificed sweat and their whole our bodies on that finish of the ground all through.
With the nice Roxy Bernstein on the ESPN2 broadcast name for fairly probably the ultimate time in the Kennel, Graduate ahead Graham Ike had his sixth straight sport of a minimum of 20 factors, cruising in simply 23 minutes and on a near-perfect 8-for-10 capturing. That’s the fewest quantity of minutes he’s performed since Dec. 30.
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Ike dominated in the paint along with his smooth contact and expert footwork on a late Tuesday evening in Spokane, Washington. As an entire, the Zags outscored the Cougars 50-22 contained in the paint and shot 31-of-49 (63.3 p.c) on seems to be contained in the three-point arc.
If Ike wants a job exterior of basketball, appearing might be in his future. He was just lately featured in a Coeur D’Alene Resort and Casino business alongside redshirt junior ahead Braden Huff, and it wants extra consideration. The pair had been seen taking part in golf and getting massages throughout the tv spot.
As for Ike’s frontcourt associate’s well being, Huff (nonetheless being supported by crutches) was again with the workforce because the first matchup with Washington State in Pullman, Washington, on Jan. 15. Huff was again residence in Chicago, Illinois, for his bodily remedy over the previous few weeks. There’s no phrase whether or not or not a surgical procedure surrounding his left knee has occurred. Any type of knee rehab might be a particularly sluggish course of.
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Continuing on the subject of accidents, freshman lead guard Mario Saint-Supery (11 factors on an ideal 5-for-5, two steals) additionally obtained hit onerous below the belt throughout the first half. He went to the locker room, however would later return due to the assistance of Assistant Athletic Director of Health and Performance Josh Therrien. Saint-Supery hit a mid-range buzzer beater to present the Zags a 27-point lead heading into halftime.
When Saint-Supery was off the ground, senior wing Jalen Warley was put on the level guard spot. Warley suffered an damage of his personal in Gonzaga’s upsetting loss on the Portland Pilots final Wednesday. A extreme thigh bruise, to be actual. This setback restricted his mobility in the times that adopted, together with throughout the 81-61 victory on the Oregon State Beavers this previous Saturday, however Warley now seems to be again to his regular self.
Graduate guard Adam Miller added 11 factors and two steals in certainly one of his extra strong outings as of late for the Zags. He’s the x-factor going ahead and must step up if they’re going to make any type of run come March.
Gonzaga crushed Washington State in all points of this sport, particularly with the distinction in effectivity of the photographs being taken between the 2 faculties. Coach David Riley ought to be extremely embarrassed by the shortage of effort he witnessed.
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One has to consider whether or not Riley will nonetheless be main this system firstly of the revamped Pac-12 Conference period subsequent season. His tenure throughout the West Coast Conference period has been nothing in need of a disappointment.
Washington State was with out senior ahead Emmanuel Ugbo for the fourth straight sport, who stays suspended for undisclosed causes. Junior ahead Rihards Vavers, along with his father in the gang after travelling from Latvia over a month in the past, has been capturing the ball extraordinarily nicely as of late. He wasn’t out there in the primary matchup towards the Zags and completed with 14 factors on 5-of-9 area objectives/2-for-6 from past the arc to associate with six rebounds.
The main scorer for the Cougars was junior guard Jerone Morton with 15 factors on 4-of-7 capturing, 4 assists/one turnover, and three steals. True freshman standout guard Ace Glass chipped in 12 factors, however went 0-for-5 on three-pointers and turned it over 4 occasions.
Gonzaga’s second unit stepped up as soon as once more, behind freshman wing Davis Fogle’s exercise with 17 factors on an environment friendly 8-of-11 capturing from the sphere. He consistently turned protection into offense along with his three steals and three blocks, performed rapidly in transition, and took contact on the rim. The way forward for this system is shining so shiny with Fogle in assault mode and exhibiting off his offensive versatility.
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He spoke with the media postgame about how a lot his general sport has advanced over the course of the 2025-26 season.
“On the defensive end, the game’s slowed down a lot. Obviously, still trying to figure out, still working on it every day in practice and taking all the advice I can from the coaches. But I think I’ve grown a lot on that end, and then just trying to do all the little things, like offensive rebounds. Cutting has been huge, so obviously playing without the ball. And defense, just trying to guard my yard.” – Gonzaga wing Davis Fogle
Washington State has now misplaced three in a row, and the Zags have overwhelmed the Cougars 9 straight occasions.
The Santa Clara Broncos (21-5, 12-1 WCC) and Gonzaga at the moment are in a tie for first place in the West Coast Conference standings. The two NCAA Tournament hopefuls can have their vitally essential rematch this Saturday, Feb. 14, at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN. This will likely be a Quad 1 street alternative for the Zags contained in the Leavey Center with the Broncos ranked No. 41 in the NET.
Gonzaga must lean on their protection as soon as once more in this particular matchup, with Santa Clara ranked No. 4 in all of faculty basketball in convention scoring with 88.1 factors per sport. 6-9 ahead Allen Graves, one of the underrated first-years in a loaded freshman class, has his eyes on a resume-stamping sort of victory over the Zags on his residence court docket.
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Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho