Gonzaga holds off Kennesaw State in March Madness thriller

Bulldogs survive first-round scare from 14-seed Owls

Mar. 20, 2026 at 7:30am

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Third-seeded Gonzaga survived a tough challenge from No. 14 seed Kennesaw State, holding off the Owls 73-64 in a defensive battle that came down to the final minutes of their first-round March Madness matchup.

Why it matters

Gonzaga entered the tournament as a top contender, but Kennesaw State, making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance, proved to be a scrappy and determined opponent that pushed the Bulldogs to the limit.

The details

Graham Ike led Gonzaga with 19 points, while Kennesaw State's Terrell Burden scored a game-high 21 points in the losing effort. The Owls played tough defense throughout, forcing 15 Gonzaga turnovers, but the Bulldogs were able to make just enough plays down the stretch to advance to the second round.

  • The game was played on March 16, 2026.

The players

Graham Ike

A junior forward for Gonzaga University who led the Bulldogs in scoring in their first-round win.

Terrell Burden

A senior guard for Kennesaw State University who scored a game-high 21 points in the Owls' narrow loss to Gonzaga.

Gonzaga University

A private Catholic university in Spokane, Washington, and the third-seeded team in the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

Kennesaw State University

A public research university located in Kennesaw, Georgia, and the 14th-seeded team making its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.

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What they’re saying

“We knew Kennesaw State was going to be a tough out. They really came at us and made us work for every basket. I'm proud of our guys for finding a way to win a close game like this in the tournament.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga University

“We gave it everything we had out there. Gonzaga is a great team, but we showed we can compete with the best. I'm so proud of the effort my guys put forth today.”

— Amir Abdur-Rahim, Head Coach, Kennesaw State University

What’s next

Gonzaga will face the winner of the game between No. 6 seed TCU and No. 11 seed Michigan State in the second round on March 18.

The takeaway

Kennesaw State's strong performance against a national title contender like Gonzaga demonstrates the depth of talent in this year's NCAA Tournament field, and the Owls' gritty effort should earn them respect and admiration from basketball fans across the country.