SPOKANE, Wash. — Graham Ike shone for Gonzaga, recording 25 points and collecting 10 rebounds as the No. 13 Bulldogs overcame an early struggle to secure an 86-65 victory against Bucknell on Saturday night.
Ben Gregg contributed significantly with 15 points, while Nolan Hickman added 14, helping the Bulldogs, now 9-3 on the season, maintain a perfect 6-0 record at home.
Ike was pivotal during the game’s opening stretch, as he was the sole player on his team to score for the first 7.5 minutes, sinking a couple of shots near the basket alongside a three-pointer from the left wing. Gregg’s three-pointer tied the game at 12 with 12:31 to go in the first half. As the game progressed, Gonzaga pulled away to establish a 38-27 advantage by halftime, launching into the second half with a dominant 9-0 run that stretched their lead to 20 points.
Noah Williamson was the standout for Bucknell (4-8), scoring 16 points, while Josh Bascoe chipped in with 14 of his own.
Looking at the overall performance, Bucknell is aiming to bounce back after enduring six consecutive defeats. They have one last nonconference game on their schedule before diving into Patriot League action. On the other hand, Gonzaga has yet to allow any opponent to shoot above 33% from beyond the arc this season, as they held Bucknell to 32.3% shooting (10 of 31) from three-point range.
A key moment in the game occurred when Bucknell surged in the second half, hitting five three-pointers, three of which came from Bascoe, cutting the deficit to 60-47. However, Gonzaga’s Gregg responded with a quick three-pointer, triggering a 9-0 scoring spree for the Bulldogs, regaining momentum.
In terms of statistics, Gonzaga capitalized on Bucknell’s 19 turnovers, scoring 24 points off these mistakes. The Bulldogs demonstrated strong defensive prowess with a total of 10 steals, four of which came from Ryan Nembhard, who also logged nine points, nine assists, and six rebounds.
Looking ahead, Bucknell will face off against Syracuse next Saturday. Meanwhile, Gonzaga is set to go up against No. 18 UCLA in the West Coast Hoops Showdown, scheduled for next Saturday at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.