Gonzaga Bulldogs Cruise Past Kennesaw State Owls in NCAA Tournament Opener

No. 3 Gonzaga dominates No. 14 Kennesaw State to advance in the Big Dance

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:20pm

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The Gonzaga Bulldogs, the No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, easily handled the No. 14 seed Kennesaw State Owls in their opening round matchup, winning comfortably by a double-digit margin. Gonzaga's stifling defense and efficient offense proved too much for the overmatched Owls, who struggled to keep pace throughout the game.

Why it matters

Gonzaga entered the tournament with some doubts about their ability to make a deep run, but this decisive victory over Kennesaw State shows they have the talent and firepower to potentially make a Final Four appearance. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State's tournament run comes to an end, but the Owls can be proud of earning an NCAA Tournament berth as a No. 14 seed.

The details

Gonzaga jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dominating Kennesaw State on both ends of the floor. The Bulldogs' defense limited the Owls' scoring opportunities, while their balanced offensive attack overwhelmed Kennesaw State's defense. Gonzaga's size and athleticism proved to be too much for the Owls to handle.

  • The game tipped off at 10:00pm ET on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in Portland, Oregon.

The players

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga is a perennial college basketball powerhouse known for its consistent excellence and deep tournament runs.

Kennesaw State Owls

The No. 14 seed in the tournament, Kennesaw State earned an NCAA Tournament berth after a solid regular season campaign, but ultimately fell short against the more talented Gonzaga squad.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Kennesaw State would come out and compete, but our guys were locked in and executed our game plan to perfection. This is just the start of what we hope will be a deep tournament run.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs

What’s next

Gonzaga will advance to face the winner of the matchup between the No. 6 seed and the No. 11 seed in the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

Gonzaga's dominant performance over Kennesaw State serves as a reminder of their status as one of the top programs in college basketball. While the Owls' tournament run ends, Gonzaga has shown it has the talent and depth to make a deep run in the Big Dance.