Gonzaga Defeats Saint Mary's in Final Kennel Matchup

ESPN broadcasters bid emotional farewell to long-running WCC rivalry

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:15am

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Gonzaga University's men's basketball team defeated Saint Mary's College 73-65 in their final regular-season matchup at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The game marked the end of ESPN's 15-year run of broadcasting the WCC's top rivalry, with announcers Dave Flemming and Sean Farnham appearing visibly emotional as the game concluded.

Why it matters

The Gonzaga-Saint Mary's rivalry has been a fixture in West Coast Conference basketball for decades, and the end of ESPN's coverage signals the splintering of long-standing regional rivalries as conferences undergo realignment. The game also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Gonzaga's star player Braden Huff, who was not on the bench due to a knee injury.

The details

Gonzaga held off a late Saint Mary's comeback to secure the victory in the final regular-season matchup between the two WCC powerhouses at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The game was marked by emotional commentary from ESPN's Flemming and Farnham, who have covered the rivalry for 15 seasons and expressed sadness at the end of an era as Gonzaga departs the WCC for the rebuilt Pac-12 conference next season.

  • The game took place on Saturday, January 28, 2026.
  • Gonzaga and Saint Mary's have faced off annually in Spokane for over 25 years.

The players

Gonzaga University

A private Catholic university in Spokane, Washington, known for its successful men's basketball program that has been a fixture in the West Coast Conference for decades.

Saint Mary's College

A private Catholic university in Moraga, California, with a men's basketball program that has been one of Gonzaga's top rivals in the WCC for years.

Braden Huff

A key player for the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team who was not on the bench for the game due to a knee injury, raising concerns about his status for the remainder of the season.

Dave Flemming

An ESPN play-by-play announcer who has covered the Gonzaga-Saint Mary's rivalry for 15 seasons and appeared visibly emotional as the game concluded.

Sean Farnham

An ESPN color commentator who has made it his mission to be involved in the Spokane community and also seemed overwhelmed as the long-running broadcast partnership came to an end.

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What they’re saying

“Endings will do that to you. Even endings that come with more than a month left before the Zags bid adieu to the WCC. And start their journey in the rebuilt Pac-12.”

— The author

“Catching the essence of that was not easy. Beyond me, actually. It was almost impossible to capture the emotion Farnham, who has made it his mission to be part of the Spokane charitable community, shared as the game wound down. He seemed overwhelmed.”

— The author

What’s next

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The takeaway

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