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Santa Clara Today
By the People, for the People
Santa Clara's NCAA tourney hopes remain after close loss to No. 12 Gonzaga
Broncos' nine-game win streak snapped, but coach Herb Sendek says 'the season is not over'
Published on Feb. 15, 2026
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The Santa Clara Broncos came up short in their bid to knock off 12th-ranked Gonzaga, losing 94-86 in front of a rare sellout crowd at Leavey Center. Despite the defeat, their first at home this season, the Broncos remain in contention for their first NCAA tournament bid since 1996 with three games left before the West Coast Conference tournament.
Why it matters
This was a crucial game for Santa Clara's NCAA tournament hopes, as a win over the highly ranked Zags would have boosted their computer ranking and chances of securing an at-large bid. The Broncos are still in good position to make the Big Dance, but this loss means they likely need to win out or make a deep run in the WCC tournament.
The details
Gonzaga senior forward Graham Ike was dominant, posting 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists, most of that in the first half when the Zags overcame an 8-point deficit to lead 44-39 at halftime. Gonzaga attacked the paint all night, outscoring Santa Clara 66-42 in the paint and shooting nearly 72% inside the 3-point line. The Broncos led for much of the first half and briefly took a 60-55 lead in the second half, but the Zags answered with an 8-0 run and pulled away late, making 13 of their final 14 free throws.
- The Broncos have three more games before the WCC tournament at Las Vegas, including trips to San Francisco and Saint Mary's over the next two weeks.
- Gonzaga, which is departing the WCC for the rebuilt Pac-12 next year, plays Wednesday at USF and closes out the regular season on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Saint Mary's.
The players
Herb Sendek
The head coach of the Santa Clara Broncos men's basketball team.
Graham Ike
A senior forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who had a dominant performance with 21 points, 15 rebounds and 4 assists.
Mark Few
The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who said Santa Clara is an NCAA tournament team that can win games in the tournament.
What they’re saying
“All season long, we've been process-oriented. Going forward, we'll continue to do the same thing. The season is not over.”
— Herb Sendek, Head Coach, Santa Clara Broncos (eastbaytimes.com)
“They're an NCAA tournament team. Not only a tournament team, but a team that can win a game or games in the tournament. That's why this is just a heckuva win. It took all we had.”
— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs (eastbaytimes.com)
What’s next
The Broncos have three more games before the WCC tournament at Las Vegas, including trips to San Francisco and Saint Mary's over the next two weeks.
The takeaway
Despite the close loss to the highly ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs, Santa Clara's NCAA tournament hopes remain alive. The Broncos have proven they can compete with the best teams in the West Coast Conference and will look to finish the regular season strong and secure their first NCAA tournament bid since 1996.
