SAN DIEGO — Graham Ike overcame early foul issues to deliver a strong performance for No. 3 Gonzaga, scoring 20 of his total 23 points during the second half, while Ryan Nembhard contributed significantly with 19 points and 10 assists as Gonzaga defeated San Diego State 80-67 on Monday night. This matchup marked a preview between two teams expected to compete in the upcoming Pac-12 conference.
Braden Nuff, coming off the bench, added 10 points for Gonzaga (4-0), which was playing its first away game of the season. This victory allowed the Bulldogs to avenge their previous 84-74 loss to SDSU, which had snapped their remarkable 59-game nonconference winning streak.
On the other side, Nick Boyd led the Aztecs (2-1) with 23 points, while BJ Davis and Wayne McKinney chipped in 15 and 11 points, respectively. Both teams had reached the Sweet 16 in the previous season, with Gonzaga maintaining an impressive streak of nine consecutive appearances.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga is set to transition from the West Coast Conference, where it has historically excelled over the past 25 years, into the revamped Pac-12 starting in 2026. The Bulldogs will add to the conference alongside Washington State, Oregon State, and several Mountain West newcomers, including Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State, and Colorado State.
In terms of key takeaways, Gonzaga’s Ike faced a challenging start, picking up two fouls just 1 minute and 15 seconds into the game, which led to him being pulled from play. He returned with vigor in the second half, significantly contributing to the team’s performance. Despite having previously bested Gonzaga in their last two encounters, including a 2017 matchup in San Diego, the Aztecs found themselves outmatched in this particular game, albeit coming off a dominant 100-49 victory against Occidental after their initial win over UC San Diego (63-58).
A pivotal moment occurred when Gonzaga surged ahead by outpacing SDSU 8-2 in the first 1 minute and 32 seconds after halftime. Ike initiated the scoring with five straight points, which set the tone to extend their nine-point lead at halftime to a commanding 48-33 shortly thereafter, aided by a three-pointer from Michael Ajai.
Statistically, Gonzaga shone at the free-throw line, making 27 out of 31 attempts. Ike was particularly notable, sinking 9 of 11 while Nembhard was perfect, going 8 for 8.
Looking forward, Gonzaga is slated to host Long Beach State on Wednesday night, while San Diego State prepares to face No. 14 Creighton on November 26 during the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas.