No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs Take on Washington State Cougars

Graham Ike leads Gonzaga's bounce-back effort after loss to Portland

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs, led by forward Graham Ike's 35-point performance, defeated Oregon State 81-61 to bounce back from an upset loss to Portland. Gonzaga will now host the Washington State Cougars, who are coming off a close loss to Santa Clara. Ike, who had guaranteed the Bulldogs wouldn't repeat their earlier loss, almost single-handedly ensured the victory with his dominant play.

Why it matters

This matchup between Gonzaga and Washington State is an important conference game for both teams. Gonzaga is looking to maintain its position near the top of the West Coast Conference standings, while Washington State is hoping to pull off an upset and climb the rankings. The game also features a star player in Graham Ike, who has been a driving force for the Bulldogs this season.

The details

In the win over Oregon State, Ike shot 13 of 18 from the field, 8 of 9 from the free-throw line, and made his only 3-point attempt. He also had seven rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one blocked shot. Gonzaga's defense also improved, limiting Oregon State to 44.2% shooting from the field after the team struggled defensively in the loss to Portland. Gonzaga defeated Washington State 86-65 in their first meeting on January 15, with Ike leading the way with 23 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.

  • Gonzaga (23-2, 11-1 West Coast Conference) will host Washington State (11-15, 6-7) on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 in Spokane, Washington.
  • Gonzaga defeated Oregon State 81-61 on Saturday, February 8, 2026.

The players

Graham Ike

A star forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs who matched a career high with 35 points in the team's win over Oregon State.

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who is looking to guide his team to a strong finish in the West Coast Conference.

David Riley

The head coach of the Washington State Cougars, whose team is looking to pull off an upset against the highly-ranked Bulldogs.

Eemeli Yalaho

A player for the Washington State Cougars who led the team with 21 points in their recent loss to Santa Clara.

Ace Glass

A player for the Washington State Cougars who scored 20 points in the team's loss to Santa Clara.

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What they’re saying

“Who shies away from the contact? If you do, you'll be eaten. It's like sharks smelling blood in the water, you can sniff that out. You've just got to battle back, iron sharpens iron.”

— Graham Ike (statenews.net)

“I liked every single matchup that was on me, on the guards, on the wings. I thought we could exploit the mismatches in a lot of different areas and we did. Shout out to the guys honestly for their relentless effort all 40 minutes, every single guy. We couldn't do it without 1-15 and the coaching staff, included. Great plan, great execution.”

— Graham Ike (statenews.net)

“We have got to get over the top. We have got to start winning these games. Giving up 96 points at home is too much.”

— David Riley, Washington State Head Coach (statenews.net)

“We have got to take care of the little stuff. Then just finishing plays.”

— Eemeli Yalaho, Washington State Player (statenews.net)

“We have got to lock in on both sides and play a full 40 minutes. I feel like we have played a lot of 30, 35-minute games.”

— Ace Glass, Washington State Player (statenews.net)

What’s next

The winner of this game will take a step closer to securing a higher seed in the upcoming West Coast Conference tournament.

The takeaway

This matchup between the No. 12 Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Washington State Cougars features a star player in Graham Ike who has been leading the Bulldogs' charge this season. The game will be an important conference battle as both teams look to improve their standing in the West Coast Conference standings.