Portland Pilots Shock Gonzaga With Historic Home Upset

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a night that will be etched into Portland basketball history, the Pilots delivered a stunning 87-80 upset over the No. 6 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs on February 4, 2026, at the Chiles Center. For a program long overshadowed by its powerhouse conference rival, the victory marked not only Portland’s first win over Gonzaga in 20 games—dating all the way back to January 9, 2014—but also its inaugural triumph over a top-10 opponent. The Chiles Center crowd, electrified from the opening tip, watched a determined Pilots squad outplay a team many considered a lock for a top seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

Freshman sensation Joel Foxwell was the star of the night, pouring in 27 points on 11-for-18 shooting, dishing out eight assists, and grabbing four rebounds. His performance was nothing short of masterful, as he orchestrated the Pilots’ offense against a Gonzaga defense that had stifled opponents all season. James O’Donnell, coming off the bench, added 16 crucial points—including the clinching dunk with just 23 seconds left that sent fans streaming onto the court in jubilation.

Portland, entering the contest as a 21.5-point underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, wasted no time showing they were up for the challenge. After a lopsided 104-74 loss at Washington State just four days earlier, the Pilots jumped out to an early 15-5 lead, fueled by back-to-back jumpers from Foxwell. "We just wanted to play our game and not worry about the rankings or the odds," Foxwell said after the game, his voice barely audible above the celebration. "Coach told us to trust each other, and we did that for 40 minutes."

Gonzaga, who came into the matchup riding a 15-game win streak and undefeated in West Coast Conference play, looked flat from the outset. The Bulldogs managed to claw back to a 17-16 deficit after a Graham Ike layup, and even briefly took a 28-26 lead on a three-pointer by Mario Saint-Supery with just under seven minutes left in the first half. But Portland responded with a 14-7 run, capped by a Garrett Nuckolls layup, to secure a 39-33 halftime lead. It was only the fourth time all season that Gonzaga trailed at the break, a testament to how thoroughly the Pilots executed their game plan.

The second half saw Portland’s offense catch fire, shooting a blistering 69.6% (16 of 23) from the field. Foxwell, who had already scored 13 points in the first half, found his rhythm from beyond the arc, knocking down a pair of three-pointers that helped stretch the lead to double digits. O’Donnell and Nuckolls joined the scoring party, with Nuckolls’ mid-range jumper pushing the advantage to 73-58 with just over seven minutes to play. The home crowd sensed something special was unfolding, their energy feeding the Pilots’ relentless attack.

But Gonzaga was not about to go quietly. Graham Ike, who finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, led a furious rally as the Bulldogs chipped away at the deficit. Mario Saint-Supery drained a three-pointer to bring the score to 82-73 with a minute left, and after a flurry of free throws and a layup by David Fogle, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing by just four, 84-80, with under 30 seconds remaining. The tension in the arena was palpable—could the Pilots hold on?

Then came the play that sealed the upset. Foxwell, ever the poised floor general despite his freshman status, fired a perfect outlet pass to O’Donnell, who soared for a fast-break dunk with 23 seconds on the clock. The Chiles Center erupted, and when Nuckolls calmly sank two free throws in the final seconds, the celebration was on. Fans rushed the court, embracing players and coaches in a scene of pure, unfiltered joy. "It’s a night we’ll never forget," O’Donnell said, grinning ear to ear.

The loss was a gut punch for Gonzaga, who fell to 22-2 overall and 10-1 in the WCC. It was their first defeat in league play and only their second of the season, the other coming against Michigan back in late November. The Bulldogs, who had dominated the Pilots in recent years—winning 19 of the last 20 meetings by double digits—were left searching for answers. Head coach Mark Few acknowledged, "We didn’t match their energy, and they made us pay. Portland played with a lot of heart."

Statistically, the Pilots dominated key areas. They out-rebounded Gonzaga 32-27, including an 18-9 advantage in the first half, and shot 59% from the field and 44% from three-point range for the game. Their defense forced Gonzaga into tough, contested shots, with the Bulldogs converting just 40% from the field and 33% from deep. Portland’s ball movement was crisp, their execution nearly flawless, and their composure down the stretch remarkable for a team that had lost three straight coming in.

The victory improved Portland’s record to 11-14 overall and 4-8 in conference play, and injected new life into a season that had, until this point, been marked by inconsistency. It also snapped a 20-game losing streak to Gonzaga and a three-game skid overall. For Foxwell, the win was a culmination of belief and preparation. "We believed we could do it," he said. "We just had to go out and prove it."

For Gonzaga, the loss exposed some vulnerabilities. Their usually stout defense was picked apart by Portland’s pick-and-pop action and quick ball movement. The Bulldogs struggled to get stops when it mattered most, and their shot selection faltered under pressure, settling for contested threes instead of attacking the rim. "We’ve got to regroup and get back to what we do best," said Graham Ike, who was a bright spot in an otherwise tough night for the Zags.

The Pilots, meanwhile, will look to build on this historic win as they prepare to host Seattle on Saturday, February 7. Gonzaga, still atop the WCC standings despite the setback, will try to bounce back on the road against Oregon State, a team that handed them a heartbreaking overtime loss last season. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with Portland 43-3, but on this night, history belonged to the Pilots.

As the final buzzer sounded and the fans poured onto the hardwood, it was clear: Portland’s breakthrough was about more than just a number in the win column. It was a statement, a reminder that in college basketball, the underdog always has its day.