BY Rosemary
Graham Ike delivered a commanding performance with 21 points and a season-high 15 rebounds as No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs fended off a determined Santa Clara rally to secure a 94-86 victory Saturday night at Leavey Center.
The win allowed Gonzaga (25-2, 13-1 West Coast Conference) to edge a half-game ahead of the Santa Clara Broncos in the conference standings, tightening its grip on first place as the regular season nears its conclusion. The Bulldogs’ latest triumph also extended a remarkable streak under longtime coach Mark Few, marking the program’s 19th consecutive season with at least 25 victories.
Few, recently named a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame, watched his team withstand one of its sternest conference tests of the year. Santa Clara entered the matchup just behind Gonzaga in the standings and played with urgency from the opening tip, energizing a sold-out home crowd eager to see the Broncos seize control of the race.
Ike, who shot 7 of 12 from the field and added four assists, recorded his seventh straight 20-point outing — matching a similar scoring run he achieved in 2024. His interior presence proved decisive in a game where Gonzaga struggled from long range but dominated inside.
The Bulldogs connected on just 3 of 18 attempts from beyond the arc, a modest 17 percent, yet compensated by shooting an efficient 56 percent overall. They poured in 66 points in the paint and outrebounded Santa Clara 41-32, repeatedly capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and high-percentage looks near the rim.
Santa Clara (22-6, 13-2) set an early tone by forcing Gonzaga into hurried possessions and contested shots. The Bulldogs missed seven of their first 10 attempts and fell behind by eight points as the Broncos’ defensive pressure disrupted their rhythm. The crowd roared with each stop, sensing an opportunity to topple the conference leaders.
Midway through the first half, Gonzaga steadied itself with a 15-7 run that shifted momentum. Ike’s physicality in the lane began to wear down Santa Clara’s interior defense. He powered through double teams and finished through contact, eventually giving the Bulldogs their first lead at 31-29 with a strong move in traffic.
The Broncos briefly reclaimed the advantage, but Ike delivered one of the game’s defining plays late in the half. Sprinting past 7-foot-1 center Bukky Oboye in transition, he rose for a thunderous one-handed dunk that electrified the Gonzaga bench and quieted the arena. The surge helped the Bulldogs carry a 44-39 lead into halftime.
Santa Clara refused to fade. Guard Christian Hammond led the charge with 16 points, attacking the basket and keeping the Broncos within striking distance throughout the second half. Each Gonzaga run was met with a counterpunch, and the margin remained tight deep into the final minutes.
Complicating matters for Gonzaga, Ike was forced to the bench for nearly three minutes late in the game due to foul trouble. During that stretch, Santa Clara pressed aggressively, attempting to exploit the absence of the Bulldogs’ primary interior anchor. Gonzaga responded with composure, relying on balanced scoring and disciplined ball movement to preserve its advantage until Ike returned.
Adam Miller and Tyon Grant-Foster each contributed 20 points, providing critical scoring bursts that prevented Santa Clara from overtaking the lead. Emmanuel Innocenti added 16 points and six rebounds, helping maintain Gonzaga’s edge on the glass and in transition.
Down the stretch, the Bulldogs leaned on their interior efficiency rather than perimeter shooting. Consistent post touches, strong cuts to the rim and timely defensive rebounds allowed them to close out the game despite the Broncos’ persistent pressure.
With the victory, Gonzaga reinforced its reputation for sustained excellence in conference play and strengthened its position heading into the final stretch of the season. The Bulldogs will next travel to face San Francisco on Wednesday, while Santa Clara is set to visit San Francisco next Saturday in another pivotal West Coast Conference matchup.
Saturday’s contest underscored the competitive balance at the top of the conference, but it was Ike’s commanding presence in the paint that ultimately separated the teams — a performance emblematic of Gonzaga’s blend of resilience and consistency under Few’s stewardship.
Original article
Comments