It was a night to remember in Spokane as No. 8 Gonzaga flexed its muscle against a high-flying Santa Clara squad, securing an 89-77 victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center on January 8, 2026. The Bulldogs, led by a sensational outing from Graham Ike, notched their 10th straight win, improving to 17-1 overall and maintaining an unblemished 5-0 record in West Coast Conference play. For Santa Clara, who entered the contest riding a four-game conference win streak and leading the WCC in scoring at a blistering 93.5 points per game, the trip north proved a daunting test against one of college basketball’s most consistent powerhouses.
Graham Ike was simply unstoppable, pouring in 34 points on an incredibly efficient 13-of-17 shooting and converting 7 of 8 free throws. He also ripped down 11 rebounds, coming within a single point of matching his career high. "Ike was a force all night," one analyst noted—a sentiment echoed throughout the arena as the Bulldogs’ big man dominated the paint on both ends. His performance was the cornerstone of a Gonzaga offense that clicked at a 58% rate from the field, far outpacing Santa Clara’s 43% mark.
The Broncos, who had been averaging over 93 points per contest in league play, found themselves stymied by Gonzaga’s physical defense and relentless rebounding. Allen Graves, coming off the bench for Santa Clara, led his team with 18 points and 9 rebounds, but it simply wasn’t enough to keep pace with the Bulldogs’ balanced attack. Christian Hammond added 14 points, while Bukky Oboye and Brenton Knapper chipped in 12 and 11 points, respectively. Yet, the Broncos’ usual offensive rhythm was disrupted, as they shot just 7-of-26 from beyond the arc and struggled to generate consistent looks inside.
Early on, it looked like Gonzaga might run away with it. Ike scored 13 of the Bulldogs’ first 17 points, helping his team jump out to a 17-9 lead. But Santa Clara wasn’t about to fold easily. A steal and layup by Oboye narrowed the gap to 23-21, and a late first-half surge saw the Broncos rattle off an 11-0 run to seize a 37-29 advantage. Brenton Knapper’s bucket gave Santa Clara its first lead, and suddenly the Bulldogs were on their heels.
But Gonzaga responded in kind. The Zags scored the next eight points, capped by an Ike free throw that tied the score at 37-all heading into halftime. The first half had all the makings of a classic WCC battle, with both teams trading blows and neither willing to cede an inch.
The second half, however, belonged to the Bulldogs. After Santa Clara briefly took a 45-44 edge, Ike went on a personal tear, scoring Gonzaga’s next 12 points and pushing his team ahead 56-51. The Bulldogs then slammed the door shut with a jaw-dropping 17-0 run, ballooning their lead to 76-55 with just under nine minutes to play. By the 5:44 mark, Gonzaga enjoyed its largest margin of the night at 80-57, effectively putting the game out of reach. The Zags’ depth was on full display, with Emmanuel Innocenti (13 points) and Braden Huff (12 points) providing crucial support, while Adam Miller, Tyon Grant-Foster, and Steele Venters each contributed key baskets.
Santa Clara’s offensive identity—built on spacing, ball movement, and relentless pursuit of second-chance opportunities—was largely neutralized by Gonzaga’s interior presence and perimeter discipline. The Broncos, who take over 46% of their shots from three-point range and boast a 40% offensive rebound rate, found few easy put-backs or open looks against a Bulldogs squad that ranks among the nation’s best at limiting opponents to just 46% shooting on twos and 29% from deep. “The way the Bulldogs rebound and take care of the ball give this one enough of a chance at landing around 160 points,” one preview predicted, and the final tally came close, with a combined 166 points on the night.
Gonzaga’s victory also underscored the value of experience and physicality. The Bulldogs, one of the oldest teams in Division I, took care of the basketball and controlled the boards, out-rebounding Santa Clara 35-31. They also dished out 17 assists, with Mario Saint-Supery and Braeden Smith each handing out four, keeping the offense humming and the Broncos chasing shadows for much of the second half.
For Santa Clara, the defeat was a sobering reminder of the gap that still exists between the conference’s best and the rest. Despite promising showings from Elijah Mahi and Christian Hammond—both of whom have been key contributors all season—the Broncos’ defense, which ranks 87th in efficiency, couldn’t withstand the Bulldogs’ onslaught. Opponents have shot 32% from deep and 51% on twos against Santa Clara this season, and Gonzaga exploited those weaknesses with ruthless precision.
Looking ahead, Santa Clara will aim to regroup as they prepare to host Loyola Marymount on Saturday. The Broncos, now 13-5 overall and 4-1 in the WCC, remain a threat in the league but will need to tighten up defensively if they hope to challenge for the top spot. Gonzaga, meanwhile, continues its march through conference play, with a trip to Washington State looming next Thursday. The Bulldogs’ combination of veteran savvy, inside dominance, and perimeter defense makes them a formidable opponent for any challenger.
This matchup also carried extra intrigue given the recent history between the two programs. Over the past two seasons, Santa Clara and Gonzaga split their regular-season series, with the Broncos even notching a surprise win in Spokane last year. That memory no doubt fueled both teams’ intensity, but on this night, it was Gonzaga who seized control and never looked back.
As the final buzzer sounded before a raucous crowd of 6,000, the Bulldogs had once again reminded the WCC—and the rest of college basketball—that Spokane is one of the toughest places to play in America. With Graham Ike leading the charge, Gonzaga’s pursuit of another conference crown is in full swing, and if Thursday’s performance is any indication, the Bulldogs are showing no signs of slowing down.
