Gonzaga University Dominates Portland
Gonzaga University, ranked ninth in the nation, achieved a dominant 89-48 victory over Portland on Wednesday evening, securing their first West Coast Conference (WCC) regular-season title since 2020. Leading the charge for the Bulldogs was Graham Ike, who not only scored 19 points but also tied a school record by recording seven steals. Braeden Smith contributed significantly with 15 points, while Mario Saint-Supery and Tyon Grant-Foster added 12 points each. In terms of rebounding, Ike also excelled, gathering eight boards throughout the game.
Significance of the Win
This win was particularly meaningful for Gonzaga, who had previously lost to Portland 87-80 on February 4. With this victory, the Bulldogs improved their overall record to 28 wins and 2 losses, with a WCC record of 16-1, thus clinching the top seed for the upcoming conference tournament. This marks the 11th time Gonzaga has achieved this feat in the last 17 years, coinciding with the WCC Tournament’s Las Vegas venue since 2009.
Game Highlights
In the game’s early stages, Ike showcased his versatility by sinking two 3-pointers, helping the Bulldogs to establish an early lead by scoring 12 of their first 17 points. His scoring outburst helped ignite a remarkable 16-0 run that pushed Gonzaga into a comfortable double-digit advantage. As the first half progressed, Saint-Supery passed to Grant-Foster for an emphatic dunk, concluding the half with the Bulldogs ahead 36-21.
The second half began with Gonzaga extending their lead thanks to a 10-0 scoring run, featuring back-to-back 3-pointers from Adam Miller and Emmanuel Innocenti. The Bulldogs maintained a lead of at least 20 points for the remainder of the contest. As the game wound down, head coach Mark Few made the decision to pull Ike with five minutes left, ending his streak of ten consecutive games scoring 20 or more points, a notable achievement for a player under Few.
Looking Ahead
Entering this matchup, Ike was leading all active Division I players with a remarkable 2,456 career points and was the only player in this category boasting both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga will be competing against Saint Mary’s on Saturday, aiming to secure the WCC title outright, while Portland will welcome San Diego to their home court on the same day.
