Gonzaga Dominates Washington State
In a commanding display, No. 12 Gonzaga triumphed over Washington State with a score of 83-53 on Tuesday night, marking the Bulldogs’ ninth consecutive victory against the Cougars. Graham Ike was a standout performer, contributing 20 points along with seven rebounds. Off the bench, Davis Fogle provided a significant boost with 17 points, while teammates Mario Saint-Supery and Adam Miller each chipped in with 11 points to secure the win for Gonzaga (24-2, 12-1 West Coast Conference).
Conference Standings and Upcoming Matchups
With this victory, Gonzaga equalizes with Santa Clara at the top of the conference standings, setting the stage for a crucial matchup on Saturday that could determine first place.
Washington State’s Struggles
For Washington State (11-16, 6-8), Jerone Morton led the scoring with 15 points, supported by Ace Glass and Rihards Vavers, who offered 12 points each. The Cougars previously suffered a heavy loss to Gonzaga at home back in January and have now been unable to defeat Gonzaga since 2010. Although Washington State boasts an all-time series lead of 98-56 that dates back to 1907, Gonzaga has clearly asserted its dominance in recent years, particularly this century.
Game Highlights
The game saw Gonzaga establish dominance early, launching a 12-2 run that led to a 29-13 advantage, largely capitalizing on Washington State’s struggles, including five turnovers within a four-minute stretch. The Cougars faltered offensively, failing to make a field goal for six minutes, allowing Gonzaga to extend their lead to 33-15 following a dunk by Fogle. By halftime, Gonzaga had built a commanding 48-21 lead, shooting an impressive 62% from the field, while Washington State was only able to achieve 26%, including a dismal 2 of 15 from beyond the arc. Additionally, 11 turnovers by the Cougars led to 17 points for Gonzaga. In the first half alone, Gonzaga netted 21 field goals compared to just six for Washington State.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead, Washington State will host Pacific on February 18, while Gonzaga prepares for a critical game against Santa Clara this Saturday evening.
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