In Santa Clara, California, Gonzaga’s Graham Ike put on an impressive performance by scoring 24 points with an exceptional shooting accuracy of 11-for-13, helping lead his team to a 95-76 victory over Santa Clara on Tuesday night. Ryan Nembhard also shone by achieving a double-double, contributing not only 12 points but also setting a personal record with 15 assists during the game.
Khalif Battle added to Gonzaga’s triumph with 21 points, while Nolan Hickman reinforced the effort by scoring 11. The Bulldogs, with a record of 22-8 overall and 13-4 in the West Coast Conference (WCC), have now claimed victory in six out of their last seven games. Despite facing challenges with shots beyond the arc, converting only 27.3% from three-point range, the team achieved an overall shooting percentage of 57.8% by making 37 of their 64 attempts.
Santa Clara’s squad was led by Tyeree Bryan, who put up 18 points. Carlos Stewart Jr. contributed 14 points, while Adama-Alpha Ball and reserve player Camaron Tongue each scored 11, reflecting Santa Clara’s combined efforts to challenge Gonzaga. Nevertheless, Santa Clara’s attempts were not enough to overhaul Gonzaga’s second-half dominance.
Gonzaga managed to take control midway through the second half, starting with Nembhard and Hickman’s series of successful jump shots. This 6-0 momentum resulted in their first double-digit lead of the night, at 61-50, with 14:22 left on the clock. Ben Gregg then extended the lead further by making two free throws, pushing the score to 81-61 as the game neared its conclusion.
Santa Clara initially had the upper hand, establishing an early advantage with a 13-3 lead. However, Gonzaga regrouped and managed to edge into a narrow 44-42 lead by halftime, setting the stage for their eventual runaway win in the latter half of the contest.
Looking ahead, Gonzaga is set to host San Francisco this coming Saturday for their next match. Meanwhile, Santa Clara prepares to travel and confront Pacific on the same day, eager to bounce back from their recent defeat.
