No. 12 Gonzaga Faces Santa Clara in Key WCC Matchup

The game has major implications for the WCC title race and NCAA Tournament seeding.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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No. 12 Gonzaga (24-2, 12-1) travels to Santa Clara (22-5, 3-1) for a crucial West Coast Conference matchup on Saturday night. The game has major implications for the WCC regular season title race, as well as potential NCAA Tournament seeding for both teams. Santa Clara is looking to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996, while Gonzaga is aiming to bounce back from a recent loss and maintain its position as one of the top teams in the country.

Why it matters

This game is a key showdown in the WCC title race, with Santa Clara currently holding a half-game lead over Gonzaga in the standings. A win for the Zags would put them back on top, while a Santa Clara victory would further cement the Broncos' status as a contender. Additionally, this game has major NCAA Tournament implications, as a top-15 win over Gonzaga could solidify Santa Clara's at-large bid, while a loss could drop Gonzaga's seeding in the Big Dance.

The details

Gonzaga defeated Santa Clara 89-77 in their previous meeting last month, but the Broncos have been on a roll lately, winning 9 straight games and averaging 86.4 points per game during that stretch. Santa Clara has multiple scoring threats, including Christian Hammond, Allen Graves, and Sash Gavalyugov, who have all scored 30+ points in a game this season. Gonzaga will need to focus on slowing down the Broncos' high-powered offense, led by standout forward Graham Ike, who has averaged 26.2 points per game against Santa Clara in his career.

  • The game is scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 7:30 PM EST.
  • Gonzaga defeated Santa Clara 89-77 in their previous meeting on January 21, 2026.

The players

Gonzaga

The No. 12 ranked team in the country, Gonzaga is one of the top programs in the West Coast Conference and a perennial NCAA Tournament contender.

Santa Clara

Santa Clara is currently leading the WCC standings and is looking to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1996, when NBA legend Steve Nash played for the Broncos.

Graham Ike

Gonzaga's standout forward, who has averaged 26.2 points per game against Santa Clara in his career.

Christian Hammond

Santa Clara's leading scorer, averaging 16.4 points per game this season.

Herb Sendek

Santa Clara's head coach, who is in his 10th season with the Broncos.

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What they’re saying

“Oh man, getting eyes on them here, I thought they were a really, really, really good team. I mean they're an NCAA Tournament team. They pass the eye test, the way they're playing and their metrics are right there. They definitely pass the eye test.”

— Mark Few, Gonzaga Head Coach

“Well they're clearly one of the best teams in the country. They're explosive offensively, they're top notch on defense, they're very talented. You've got to play a complete and total game against them to be competitive.”

— Herb Sendek, Santa Clara Head Coach (KRON4 News)

What’s next

The winner of Saturday's game will take sole possession of first place in the WCC standings. The teams will meet again on February 29th in Spokane, with that game potentially having major implications for the WCC Tournament seeding.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the WCC's top teams has significant implications for the conference title race and NCAA Tournament positioning. Santa Clara is looking to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth in nearly 30 years, while Gonzaga is aiming to maintain its status as one of the nation's elite programs. The outcome of this game could have a major impact on the postseason aspirations of both teams.