The McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington, was positively buzzing on January 8, 2026, as No. 8 Gonzaga hosted the Santa Clara Broncos in a showdown between two of the West Coast Conference’s hottest teams. In a game that delivered on drama and dazzling individual performances, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike put on a clinic, pouring in 34 points and grabbing 11 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs to an impressive 89-77 win. The victory not only extended Gonzaga’s winning streak to ten games but also solidified their status as a force to be reckoned with in the WCC.
From the opening tip, Ike looked like a man on a mission. The senior center wasted no time, scoring 13 points within the first eight minutes and finishing the night with an eye-popping 13-for-17 shooting from the field. He was nearly automatic from the free throw line as well, sinking 7 of 8 attempts. This monster performance marked Ike’s 10th double-double of the season and came just one point shy of his career high—a mark he set during his sophomore year at Wyoming.
“That’s a huge night, so hopefully we can quit feeling out early in these games and just go ahead and play full throttle,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few remarked postgame. He continued, “He was on and again, that’s not an easy crew to go against. They’ve got some nice, athletic shot-blockers. They’re long in there and (Allen) Graves is a good-looking, physical specimen also.”
Early on, the Zags seemed poised to run away with it, jumping out to a 17-9 lead behind Ike’s dominance. But Santa Clara, coming into the contest leading the WCC in scoring during league play at a blistering 93.5 points per game, was not about to back down. The Broncos clawed their way back into the game, with Bukky Oboye’s steal and layup narrowing the gap to 23-21. Brenton Knapper’s floater just minutes later gave Santa Clara a 30-29 edge, and the Broncos capitalized on Gonzaga’s sloppy play to go on an 11-0 run, pushing their lead to 37-29.
Gonzaga, however, showed why they’re one of the nation’s elite. The Bulldogs responded with their own 8-0 burst to close the half, tying things up at 37 apiece. The first half was a tense, back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading blows and neither able to seize full control. Gonzaga struggled with turnovers, committing ten in the opening frame, and foul trouble hampered several key players. But the Zags’ resilience shone through, setting the stage for a pivotal second half.
The intensity ratcheted up after the break. Santa Clara briefly reclaimed the lead at 45-44 on an Oboye corner jumper with just under 18 minutes to play. But then, the Graham Ike show resumed in full force. The big man rattled off 12 straight points for the Bulldogs, single-handedly flipping the script and giving Gonzaga a 56-51 advantage with 12:36 left on the clock. “He had it going from the jump and he didn’t let up at all tonight. He could be a 20-plus point per game scorer, but he sacrifices a lot to win for the team, so tonight I think you saw how dominant he is,” said teammate Braden Huff, who chipped in 12 points and six rebounds of his own.
With Ike leading the charge, Gonzaga unleashed a devastating 20-2 run that spanned nearly five minutes and effectively put the game out of reach. A highlight-reel stepback three-pointer by Ike, followed by a three-point play and an Emmanuel Innocenti corner triple, ignited the crowd and left the Broncos reeling. The Zags’ lead ballooned to 76-55 with just over six minutes remaining, and while Santa Clara managed to score the final seven points of the contest, the outcome was never truly in doubt.
Emmanuel Innocenti had a breakout night for Gonzaga, finishing with 13 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting, marking just his second double-digit scoring effort of the season. The Bulldogs’ offense was firing on all cylinders, shooting a sizzling 58% from the floor and dishing out 17 assists compared to Santa Clara’s 12. On the boards, Gonzaga also held a slight edge, out-rebounding the Broncos 35-31.
For Santa Clara, the night was a tale of two halves. The Broncos’ high-octane offense sputtered in the second half, as they connected on just 7 of 26 attempts from beyond the arc and shot 43% overall. Allen Graves was a bright spot, coming off the bench to post a career-high 18 points, nine rebounds, and three steals. Christian Hammond added 14 points—his team-leading 15th game in double figures this season—while Brenton Knapper contributed 11 points. Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek had nothing but praise for Ike, stating, “You know, I thought Ike was phenomenal tonight, 13 for 17 from the field. He made a number of tough shots.”
The Broncos’ loss was their first in conference play this season, dropping them to 13-5 overall and 4-1 in the WCC. Despite the setback, Santa Clara showed flashes of the offensive firepower that has made them one of the league’s most dangerous squads, with Graves now having reached double figures in ten games this year and Oboye notching his eighth game in double digits with 12 points.
The Zags’ win extended their dominance in the all-time series, now holding a commanding 73-32 advantage over the Broncos. It also marked a bit of redemption, as Santa Clara had upset Gonzaga in Spokane just last season—a loss that still lingered in the minds of Bulldogs fans and players alike.
Looking ahead, both teams face intriguing matchups that could shape the rest of their conference campaigns. Santa Clara returns home to the Leavey Center for a three-game homestand, beginning with a clash against Loyola Marymount on January 10. Gonzaga, meanwhile, enjoys a weeklong layoff before hitting the road to take on Washington State on January 15, followed by a trip to Seattle University on January 17.
As the dust settles in Spokane, one thing is clear: when Graham Ike is locked in, Gonzaga is a juggernaut. With their tenth consecutive victory secured and momentum firmly on their side, the Bulldogs look poised to make a serious run at the top of the WCC. For Santa Clara, the challenge now is to regroup and rediscover the offensive rhythm that made them such a threat entering the night. The conference race is far from over, and if this matchup was any indication, fans can expect plenty more fireworks in the weeks ahead.
