Santa Clara Aims to Defeat No. 12 Gonzaga in Final WCC Matchup

The Broncos look to cap off a memorable season with a win over the Bulldogs in their last regular-season meeting as conference foes.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Santa Clara is enjoying a standout season and sits atop the West Coast Conference standings, but they'll face a tough test when they host No. 12 Gonzaga on Saturday night. This will be the final regular-season matchup between the two programs, who have been in the same conference for the past 46 years. The Broncos are eager to beat the Bulldogs one last time before Gonzaga departs for the Pac-12 next season.

Why it matters

This game has major WCC title implications, as Santa Clara holds a half-game lead over Gonzaga in the standings. A win would give the Broncos a significant advantage in their quest for the conference crown and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid. Additionally, this matchup marks the end of a long-standing rivalry between the two programs, adding extra significance to the outcome.

The details

Santa Clara has won 9 straight games since losing to Gonzaga 89-77 on January 8th. In that previous meeting, Bulldogs star Graham Ike scored 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. The Broncos will look to slow down Ike, who has scored 30+ points in 3 of his last 6 games. Santa Clara has been dominant at home this season, going 13-0 at their own gym.

  • The game will be played on Saturday, February 13, 2026.
  • Santa Clara and Gonzaga have been conference rivals for the past 46 seasons, dating back to 1959.

The players

Sash Gavalyugov

A freshman guard for Santa Clara who scored 21 points in the team's recent win over Seattle University.

Graham Ike

The star player for Gonzaga, who scored 34 points and had 11 rebounds in the previous matchup against Santa Clara.

Davis Fogle

A freshman for Gonzaga who had a strong defensive performance in the team's recent win over Washington State, recording 3 blocks and 3 steals.

Herb Sendek

The head coach of the Santa Clara Broncos, who is downplaying the hype around this game and focusing on it as just the "next game on our schedule."

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who believes Santa Clara is an NCAA Tournament-caliber team despite their long drought from the Big Dance.

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What they’re saying

“We'll keep it straightforward. It's our last game against Gonzaga in the WCC, so we look to beat them for a goodbye. We look to be undefeated for the rest of the season.”

— Sash Gavalyugov, Santa Clara Guard

“They're an NCAA Tournament team. They pass the eye test.”

— Mark Few, Gonzaga Head Coach

“It's the next game on our schedule. We don't look at the name on the jersey or the tip time or the weather or whether it's a holiday or any other thing that can enter someone's mind. When it's time to play, our conference schedule demands the best of us.”

— Herb Sendek, Santa Clara Head Coach

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a major step towards claiming the West Coast Conference regular season title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between Santa Clara and Gonzaga represents the end of a long-standing rivalry in the WCC, as the Bulldogs prepare to depart for the Pac-12 next season. The Broncos have a chance to cap off a memorable campaign with a signature win over their conference foe, further cementing their status as an NCAA Tournament contender.