In Santa Clara, California, Gonzaga’s standout performance in the second half helped secure a 95-76 victory over Santa Clara on Tuesday night. Graham Ike was a key player in this matchup, leading the Bulldogs with 24 points, having scored 11 of his 13 attempts. Additionally, Ryan Nembhard’s impressive double-double contributed significantly to the win with 12 points and a personal best of 15 assists. Khalif Battle added 21 points to the scoreboard, while Nolan Hickman contributed 11. Gonzaga, which has been on a winning streak, notched its sixth victory in the last seven games, enhancing its record to 22-8 overall and 13-4 in the West Coast Conference (WCC).
Despite their commanding performance, Gonzaga struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 27.3% (6 for 22), but managed an overall field goal percentage of 57.8% (37 of 64). In contrast, Santa Clara’s efforts were led by Tyeree Bryan who scored 18 points. Carlos Stewart Jr. and Adama-Alpha Ball rounded their lineup with 14 and 11 points respectively, matching reserve Camaron Tongue’s contribution of 11 points. Santa Clara’s record stands at 19-11 overall and 11-6 in the conference.
Gonzaga started to pull ahead after a series of successful jump shots by Nembhard and Hickman, securing a double-digit lead of 61-50 with just over 14 minutes remaining in the game. The team’s control was confirmed when Ben Gregg converted two free throws with under five minutes left, extending their lead to 81-61.
Initially, Santa Clara appeared dominant, building an early 13-3 advantage, but Gonzaga rallied back to seize a narrow 44-42 lead at halftime. Looking ahead, Gonzaga is scheduled to host San Francisco on Saturday, while Santa Clara will visit Pacific on the same day.
