Gonzaga Holds Off Kennesaw State in March Madness Thriller

No. 3 seed Bulldogs survive late scare from No. 14 seed Owls in 73-64 win

Mar. 20, 2026 at 5:19am

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Graham Ike scored 19 points and third-seeded Gonzaga held off a tenacious effort from No. 14 seed Kennesaw State to win 73-64 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs led by as many as 11 points in the second half, but the Owls fought back to make it a one-possession game late before Gonzaga closed it out.

Why it matters

Gonzaga, a perennial March Madness contender, avoided an early upset scare against a scrappy Kennesaw State team making just its second NCAA Tournament appearance. The win keeps the Bulldogs' hopes alive for another deep tournament run, while the Owls proved they can compete with one of the nation's top programs.

The details

Gonzaga forward Graham Ike scored a team-high 19 points, while Davis Fogle added 17 for the Bulldogs. RJ Johnson and Amir Taylor each had 15 points for Kennesaw State, which led for much of the first half before Gonzaga closed the half on a 10-0 run to take a 33-27 lead. The Bulldogs stretched the lead to 11 in the second half, but the Owls fought back to make it a one-possession game late before Gonzaga held on.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 19, 2026 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • Gonzaga led 33-27 at halftime.

The players

Graham Ike

A forward for Gonzaga who scored a team-high 19 points in the win.

Davis Fogle

A Gonzaga player who scored 17 points in the victory.

RJ Johnson

A Kennesaw State player who scored 15 points in the losing effort.

Amir Taylor

A Kennesaw State player who also scored 15 points for the Owls.

Mark Few

The head coach of Gonzaga, who led the Bulldogs to the win.

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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, Gonzaga Forward

“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 West Region.

The takeaway

Gonzaga's ability to withstand Kennesaw State's upset bid demonstrates the Bulldogs' experience and resilience in the NCAA Tournament, as they continue their quest for a national championship after falling just short in recent years.