No. 3 Gonzaga Holds Off Kennesaw State in NCAA Tournament

Bulldogs advance to second round with 73-64 victory

Mar. 20, 2026 at 10:35am

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Third-seeded Gonzaga defeated 14th-seeded Kennesaw State 73-64 in the first round of the NCAA West Region tournament. Graham Ike scored 19 points and Davis Fogle added 17 to lead the Bulldogs, who won their 17th straight NCAA Tournament opener. Kennesaw State's Frankquon Sherman had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but the Owls couldn't overcome the loss of leading scorer Simeon Cottle earlier in the season.

Why it matters

Gonzaga is one of the top programs in college basketball, having won 24 NCAA Tournament games since 2017 - the most of any team. Their victory over Kennesaw State keeps their tournament hopes alive as they look to make a deep run.

The details

Gonzaga led by as many as 9 points in the second half, but Kennesaw State cut the deficit to 5 late in the game. However, the Bulldogs were able to hold on for the 73-64 win. Gonzaga outrebounded Kennesaw State 45-34 and overcame 39.7% shooting from the field.

  • The game was played on Thursday, March 20, 2026.

The players

Graham Ike

The West Coast Conference Player of the Year, Ike scored 19 points and had 8 rebounds for Gonzaga.

Davis Fogle

Fogle scored 17 points and had 5 rebounds for the Bulldogs.

Frankquon Sherman

Sherman had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Kennesaw State.

Simeon Cottle

Kennesaw State's leading scorer, Cottle missed the game due to a federal gambling probe.

Jalen Warley

Warley recorded a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Gonzaga.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Gonzaga will play Texas in the second round on Saturday.

The takeaway

Gonzaga's victory over Kennesaw State keeps their NCAA Tournament hopes alive as they look to make a deep run. The Bulldogs' experience and talent proved too much for the Owls, who were playing without their leading scorer.