Gonzaga Defeats Santa Clara 94-86 to Take First Place in WCC

Zags snap Broncos' 9-game winning streak and sweep regular-season series

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The 12th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 94-86 in a West Coast Conference showdown on Saturday night. Gonzaga's star player Graham Ike had a dominant performance with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists, helping the Zags take control in the second half after Santa Clara led for much of the first half. The loss snaps Santa Clara's 9-game winning streak and drops them out of first place in the WCC standings.

Why it matters

This game had major implications in the WCC regular-season title race. Santa Clara was off to its best start in over 50 years and was looking to cement its status as a contender for the conference crown and an NCAA Tournament bid. However, Gonzaga's victory, in its final season in the WCC before moving to the Pac-12, shows the Zags' continued dominance in the conference and puts them back in first place.

The details

Gonzaga overcame an early deficit, rallying from 8 points down in the first half to take control in the second half. The Zags dominated the paint, outscoring Santa Clara 66-42 inside, led by the 6'9" Ike. Gonzaga also got big games from wings Adam Miller (21 points) and Tyon Grant-Foster (20 points). Santa Clara got 16 points from Christian Hammond, 15 from Elijah Mahi, and 13 from Allen Graves, but couldn't overcome Gonzaga's size and strength.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Graham Ike

Gonzaga's star player, a 6'9" left-handed forward who had 21 points, 15 rebounds, and 4 assists in the game.

Christian Hammond

A Santa Clara player who scored 16 points in the losing effort.

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Elijah Mahi

A Santa Clara player who scored 15 points in the game.

Allen Graves

A Santa Clara player who scored 13 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

This game highlighted Gonzaga's continued dominance in the West Coast Conference, as they were able to overcome an early deficit and defeat a Santa Clara team that was off to its best start in over 50 years. The loss drops Santa Clara out of first place in the WCC standings, but they still have a strong NET ranking and are in contention for their first NCAA Tournament bid in 30 seasons.