Gonzaga Dominates Washington State in 83-53 Victory

Bulldogs' stifling defense and Graham Ike's efficient scoring lead to resounding win.

Feb. 11, 2026 at 1:31am

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Gonzaga's men's basketball team cruised to an 83-53 victory over Washington State on Tuesday night, led by a dominant defensive performance and another strong outing from forward Graham Ike. The Bulldogs held the Cougars to a season-low in points and scored 31 points off 21 turnovers, while Ike poured in 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting to go along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Why it matters

The win keeps Gonzaga firmly in contention for a high NCAA Tournament seed, as they continue to build an impressive resume. The Bulldogs' stifling defense has been a key factor in their success this season, and they will look to carry that momentum into their upcoming matchup against fellow WCC contender Santa Clara.

The details

Gonzaga's defense was the story of the night, as they held Washington State to just 53 points - a season low for the Cougars. The Bulldogs forced 21 turnovers and scored 31 points off those miscues. On the offensive end, Graham Ike led the way with an efficient 20-point, 7-rebound performance, helping Gonzaga outscore WSU 50-22 in the paint.

  • The game was played on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Mark Few

The head coach of the Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team.

Graham Ike

A forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, who scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed 7 rebounds in the win.

Emmanuel Innocenti

A Gonzaga player known for his relentless ball pressure and ability to disrupt the opposing team's offense.

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What they’re saying

“Tonight was about our defense. It was active, it was forceful. It was stifling at times. It was great just to see our guys flying around and they hit all their coverages.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs

“It can't go unnoticed just how incredible Emmanuel is at pressuring the ball. Every night we just ask him to get up, usually on their best player or their best initiator offense, and he's just relentless with his ball pressure, which just makes all our coverages so much easier.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs

What’s next

Gonzaga will face another tough WCC opponent, Santa Clara, on Saturday. The Bulldogs will look to continue their strong defensive play and efficient offense against a Broncos team that Few described as "a really, really, really good team" that is an "NCAA Tournament team."

The takeaway

Gonzaga's stifling defense and balanced offensive attack, led by Graham Ike, proved too much for Washington State to handle. The Bulldogs' ability to force turnovers and score in the paint has been a key factor in their success this season, and they will look to carry that momentum into their upcoming matchup against fellow WCC contender Santa Clara.