No. 8 Gonzaga holds off San Francisco’s late surge, winning 68-66 in Spokane Saturday night

Gonzaga survives final possession after Dons erase a late deficit

No. 8 Gonzaga maintained its unbeaten run in West Coast Conference play Saturday, January 24, 2026, holding off a late San Francisco rally for a 68-66 win at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane. The Bulldogs improved to 21-1 overall and 9-0 in the WCC, while the Dons fell to 13-9 overall and 5-4 in conference play.

The game turned into a one-possession finish after Gonzaga’s 10-point lead inside the final two minutes narrowed quickly. San Francisco had a chance to take the lead at the buzzer, but its final three-point attempt missed, and Gonzaga secured the result with a last-second defensive stand and rebound.

Short-handed Zags lean on guards and freshmen as frontcourt remains depleted

Gonzaga again played without its two leading scorers for the third consecutive game. Forward Braden Huff remained sidelined with a knee injury, and forward Graham Ike continued to recover from an ankle injury. With the usual interior scoring absent, Gonzaga’s production shifted to its perimeter and complementary pieces.

• Jalen Warley led Gonzaga with 19 points.
• Davis Fogle scored 15 points and secured a key late rebound.
• Tyon Grant-Foster added 15 points, including pivotal scoring during the closing minutes.

San Francisco’s three-point shooting keeps pressure on Gonzaga throughout

San Francisco stayed within striking distance by repeatedly scoring from beyond the arc, finishing 14-of-28 on three-pointers. Legend Smiley paced the Dons with 18 points, and Ryan Beasley added 14. The outside shooting nearly overcame a difficult night on two-point attempts, where the Dons went 8-of-27, and a turnover count that repeatedly fed Gonzaga transition chances.

Late-game sequence: a 10-point cushion disappears, then one stop decides it

Gonzaga briefly created separation late, but the final stretch underscored how narrow the margins became against a confident San Francisco team. The Dons’ choice to pursue a three on the final possession reflected their efficiency from deep, but Gonzaga’s closeout defense disrupted the look and forced a contested attempt.

The closing possessions combined Gonzaga’s defensive execution with San Francisco’s ability to generate high-leverage shots from three-point range, a dynamic that defined much of the second half.

What the result means in the WCC race

The win kept Gonzaga perfect in conference play and extended its long-running edge in the series with San Francisco. For the Dons, the performance offered a measurable benchmark: a road game in Spokane that was within one possession at the horn, powered by elite perimeter shot-making and a late comeback that nearly broke through.

Gonzaga’s schedule next turns toward another major WCC test, with the Bulldogs set to face Saint Mary’s on Saturday, February 1, 2026.