3 Takeaways As Gonzaga Cruises Past Washington State, Stays Undefeated In Wcc

Mark Few and nan Gonzaga Bulldogs made their first roadworthy travel of 2026 connected Thursday - without starring scorer Braden Huff - and came distant pinch a comfortable 86-65 triumph complete nan Washington State Cougars successful Pullman.

It was announced astir 1 hr earlier extremity that Huff, who is averaging 17.8 points and 5.6 rebounds this year, will beryllium out 4-8 weeks aft suffering a near knee wounded astatine believe this week.

Huff's absence is important for Gonzaga, particularly pinch upcoming matchups against San Francisco and Saint Mary's to adjacent retired nan period of January.

However, nan Zags were capable to grip a struggling Washington State squad without nan 6'9 large man, acknowledgment successful ample portion to his replacement successful nan starting lineup - Jalen Warley - and Graham Ike, Huff's longtime teammate successful nan frontcourt.

Thursday's title was a crippled of runs early, pinch WSU jumping retired to a 5-0 lead earlier Gonzaga's defense tightened up, holding nan Cougars scoreless for a six infinitesimal agelong while racking up a 15-0 tally of their own. However, nan Zags 10 constituent lead was erased almost instantaneously by a individual 9-0 tally from Simon Hildebrandt, who deed back-to-back-to-back threes successful 58 seconds to make it 15-14 astatine nan under-12 media timeout, en way to a career-high 16 points disconnected nan bench.

The early Pac-12 rivals traded blows for nan adjacent fewer minutes, pinch Adam Miller making a lay-in to necktie nan crippled astatine 30 pinch 5 minutes to spell successful nan first half. The Zags put connected nan jets aft that, going connected a 13-3 tally - capped by a midrange jumper from freshman Davis Fogle successful nan closing seconds - to caput into nan locker room up 43-33 astatine nan half.

From location it was nan Graham Ike show. The large man drew a foul connected WSU halfway ND Okafor - his 4th of crippled - conscionable 0:38 seconds into nan half, and past proceeded to spell to activity connected nan block. Ike scored six points pinch 3 rebounds successful nan opening 4 minutes, while Gonzaga ran their lead up to 53-37 conscionable earlier nan first media timeout.

Gonzaga coasted aft that, moving to 18-1 wide and 6-0 successful convention play. They person now defeated Washington State each 3 times nan schools person matched up since WSU joined nan WCC arsenic an connection member, pinch 1 much regular play matchup slated for Feb. 10 successful Spokane.

Below is simply a look astatine 3 cardinal takeaways from Gonzaga's 18th triumph of nan twelvemonth and 15th by double-digits:

1. Jalen Warley is fresh for his close-up

As expected, Jalen Warley replaced Braden Huff successful nan starting lineup for Gonzaga - and he reminded fans he is much than tin of taking complete for this squad erstwhile needed.

Warley racked up 4 points, 3 steals, 1 rebound, 1 block, and 1 assist...in nan first 5 minutes of Thursday's game. He vanished nan half starring Gonzaga successful points (11), steals (3), and blocks (2) while adding 3 rebounds and 2 assists and shooting a blistering 5-6 from nan section and 1-1 from nan free propulsion line.

The 6'6 helping has been among nan astir versatile players successful caller representation for Gonzaga, and while he's not your mean powerfulness guardant he brings a unsocial move to nan Zags connected some ends of nan level - which showed up correct retired of nan gates coming successful Pullman.

2. Graham Ike took over

It's nary concealed Gonzaga will request Graham Ike to return complete for this squad pinch Huff connected nan shelf, and coming disconnected a profession nighttime past week against Santa Clara, nan large man looked afloat fresh to support it rolling connected Thursday.

Ike was ferocious connected nan artifact each nighttime long, finishing pinch a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds - six of them violative - giving him his convention starring 11th double-double connected nan year. The 6'9 large man besides added a team-high 5 assists on pinch 2 steals, while shooting 11-15 from nan section and efficaciously neutralizing WSU's starting center, ND Okafor, who played conscionable 11 minutes owed to foul problem and grounded to people pinch 3 turnovers.

Ike, who was precocious named to nan Wooden Award midseason Watch List, will request to play for illustration an All-American for Gonzaga to enactment undefeated during Huff's absence. So far, truthful good.

3. Gonzaga dominated nan violative glass

Ike wasn't nan only Zag crushing it connected nan violative boards. Overall Gonzaga outrebounded WSU, 43-29, pinch a whopping 17 of them coming connected nan violative glass.

Warley (3), Grant-Foster (4) and Emmanuel Innocenti (2) were awesome parts of Gonzaga's rebounding power connected Thursday night.

Most teams who suffer a 6'9 seasoned for illustration Huff to wounded would struggle connected nan glass, but much playing clip for Warley, Grant-Foster, and 7'0 Ismaila Diagne should let nan Zags to enactment ascendant successful that class done WCC play.

Gonzaga will caput crossed nan authorities adjacent to return connected Seattle University for nan 2nd clip this month, pinch tip-off slated for 7:00 PM PT astatine Climate Pledge Arena. The crippled will beryllium broadcast connected ESPN+.