No. 6 Gonzaga looks to bounce back against Oregon State

Bulldogs aim to regroup after rare loss to Portland ahead of WCC matchup

Feb. 6, 2026 at 2:39pm

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The No. 6 Gonzaga Bulldogs will look to bounce back from a surprising loss to Portland when they face Oregon State in a West Coast Conference matchup on Saturday. Gonzaga had won 15 straight games before falling 87-80 to the Pilots, a game in which they struggled on both ends of the floor. The Bulldogs will now try to rediscover their form against an Oregon State team that has won three straight games, including comebacks from double-digit deficits in their last two contests.

Why it matters

Gonzaga is one of the top teams in the country and the loss to Portland was a rare blemish on their record. The Bulldogs will need to regroup quickly to maintain their position atop the WCC standings and keep their hopes of a high NCAA Tournament seed alive. Oregon State, meanwhile, is looking to continue its recent momentum and pull off an upset against the highly-ranked Zags.

The details

In the loss to Portland, Gonzaga allowed the Pilots to shoot 59.3% from the field and trailed by as many as 15 points. Coach Mark Few said his team lacked consistency on the defensive end and didn't get the effort they needed from all of their players. Star big man Graham Ike had 24 points and 10 rebounds, but the other four Gonzaga starters managed just 19 points on 5-of-16 shooting. Oregon State, on the other hand, has won three straight games, rallying from double-digit deficits in their last two contests. Josiah Lake II scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half of their most recent win over Washington State.

  • Gonzaga had won 15 consecutive games before the upset loss to Portland on Wednesday.
  • Oregon State has won three straight games, including comebacks from double-digit deficits in their last two contests.

The players

Graham Ike

Gonzaga's star big man who leads the team in scoring (19.0 ppg) and rebounding (8.6 rpg).

Mark Few

Gonzaga's head coach who expressed disappointment in his team's inconsistent effort in the loss to Portland.

Josiah Lake II

Oregon State's leading scorer who has had four 20-point games this season, including 20 points in the second half of their most recent win.

Wayne Tinkle

Oregon State's head coach who praised his team's ability to fight back from double-digit deficits in their recent wins.

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What they’re saying

“They beat us in all facets. They just outplayed us, out-executed us, outshot us. When they got open shots, they made them and we didn't.”

— Mark Few, Gonzaga Head Coach

“They accepted the challenge that we put in front of them. We executed our offense. We played with way more pace and conviction. Then defensively we said 'no more switching. Fight through, guard your guy. No excuses. No explanations.'”

— Wayne Tinkle, Oregon State Head Coach

What’s next

Gonzaga will look to bounce back and regain their form against Oregon State on Saturday, while the Beavers aim to continue their recent momentum and pull off an upset over the highly-ranked Bulldogs.

The takeaway

This matchup between Gonzaga and Oregon State represents an important opportunity for both teams. The Bulldogs need to regroup quickly after their surprising loss, while the Beavers have a chance to build on their recent success and climb up the WCC standings with an upset win over a top-10 opponent.