Gonzaga Holds Off Kennesaw State in March Madness Thriller

No. 3 seed Gonzaga defeats No. 14 seed Kennesaw State 73-64 in first-round NCAA Tournament game

Mar. 20, 2026 at 9:50am

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In a defensive battle, third-seeded Gonzaga held off a tenacious effort from No. 14 seed Kennesaw State, winning 73-64 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Graham Ike scored 19 points for the Bulldogs, who will face No. 11 seed Texas in the next round. RJ Johnson and Amir Taylor each had 15 points for Kennesaw State, which was making its second March Madness appearance.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the parity in college basketball, as the heavy underdog Kennesaw State gave the highly-ranked Gonzaga squad all they could handle. The close contest also showcased the drama and excitement of the NCAA Tournament, where any team can pull off an upset on a given night.

The details

Gonzaga led by as many as 11 points in the second half, but Kennesaw State fought back and got within 5 points late in the game. A flagrant foul call on Gonzaga's Graham Ike sparked a late rally by the Owls, but the Bulldogs were able to hold on for the victory. Gonzaga's Jalen Warley recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 20, 2026 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Gonzaga led 33-27 at halftime.

The players

Graham Ike

A key player for Gonzaga, scoring 19 points in the win.

Davis Fogle

Scored 17 points for Gonzaga in the victory.

RJ Johnson

Led Kennesaw State with 15 points in the losing effort.

Amir Taylor

Also scored 15 points for Kennesaw State in the first-round matchup.

Jalen Warley

Recorded a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds for Gonzaga.

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What they’re saying

“We battled the storms. This team is built for adversity from the jump, and I'm just super proud of how we handle it.”

— Graham Ike

“I'm really happy that we got through this one. It wasn't pretty. But the bottom line is you just win. And we get to move on.”

— Mark Few, Gonzaga Head Coach

“Just couldn't get over that hump. That's a really good team and coach Few does a tremendous job. That dude Graham is a handful, but I thought our guys battled and stuck to the game plan. We will be back, it was a great taste.”

— Antoine Pettway, Kennesaw State Head Coach

What’s next

Gonzaga will face No. 11 seed Texas on Saturday in the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This game showcased the parity in college basketball, as the heavy underdog Kennesaw State gave the highly-ranked Gonzaga squad all they could handle. The close contest highlighted the drama and excitement of the NCAA Tournament, where any team can pull off an upset on a given night.