Texas Longhorns upset Gonzaga Bulldogs in March Madness thriller

No. 11 seed Texas advances to Sweet 16 after taking down 3-seed Gonzaga in West Region second round

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:19pm

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The No. 11 seed Texas Longhorns pulled off a stunning upset over the 3-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs in the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament West Region on Saturday. Texas, a First Four team, defeated Gonzaga 73-64 after previously knocking off BYU in the first round. The Longhorns' victory extends their unexpected tournament run as they advance to the Sweet 16.

Why it matters

Gonzaga was the heavy favorite entering the matchup, having won the West Coast Conference championship and posting a strong 23-3 record on the season. Texas' upset win over the Bulldogs is a major surprise that shakes up the West Region bracket and keeps the Longhorns' Cinderella story alive in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Texas was led by a balanced scoring effort, with three players scoring in double figures. Sophomore forward Dillon Swain had a big game, recording a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman guard Jaylon Pope added 16 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Gonzaga struggled to find its rhythm, shooting just 42.7% from the field as a team. The Bulldogs' leading scorer, junior forward Gus Ike, was held to 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 21, 2026 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament West Region.
  • Texas defeated BYU 79-71 in the first round on Thursday, March 19, 2026 to advance to the second round matchup with Gonzaga.

The players

Dillon Swain

A sophomore forward for the Texas Longhorns who recorded a double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds in the upset win over Gonzaga.

Jaylon Pope

A freshman guard for the Texas Longhorns who scored 16 points, dished out 5 assists and had 4 steals in the victory over the Bulldogs.

Gus Ike

A junior forward for the Gonzaga Bulldogs who was held to 12 points on 5-of-12 shooting in the loss to Texas.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so proud of our guys for the fight they showed today. No one gave us a chance, but we believed in ourselves and got it done against a really good Gonzaga team.”

— Chris Beard, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

“Credit to Texas, they came in here and played a great game. We just couldn't get into a rhythm offensively and their defense really bothered us.”

— Mark Few, Head Coach, Gonzaga Bulldogs

What’s next

Texas will face the winner of the UCLA vs. Creighton second round matchup in the Sweet 16 of the West Region next weekend.

The takeaway

Texas' upset victory over Gonzaga is a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns, a First Four team, have now knocked off two higher-seeded opponents to keep their Cinderella run alive and advance to the Sweet 16, proving that anything can happen in March Madness.