Hold onto your seats, basketball fans, because Gonzaga just clinched a top-two seed and a semifinal spot in the WCC Tournament after a thrilling 71-62 victory over Pacific on February 21, 2026. But here's where it gets controversial—while Gonzaga's dominance is undeniable, Pacific's TJ Wainwright nearly flipped the script with back-to-back 3-pointers to open the second half, putting the Tigers ahead 35-31. Could this have been the turning point that changed the game's outcome? Let’s dive in.
In Spokane, Washington, Graham Ike continued his scorching streak, dropping 20 points and adding three blocks for the Bulldogs. And this is the part most people miss—Ike’s performance marked his ninth consecutive game with 20 or more points, the longest streak by a Gonzaga player in two decades. Oh, and did we mention he’s the only active Division I player with 2,000 career points and 1,000 rebounds? Talk about a stat line that demands respect. Davis Fogle chipped in with 18 points, while Emmanuel Innocenti added 13, helping Gonzaga improve to 27-2 overall and a stellar 15-1 in the West Coast Conference—their best conference record since the 2020-21 season.
Pacific, led by Elias Ralph and Justin Rochelin with 12 points each, showed grit despite falling to 17-13 (8-9 WCC). Wainwright’s early second-half surge was a highlight, but Gonzaga responded with a decisive 6-0 run to regain control, pulling ahead 56-49 and never looking back.
Here’s a thought-provoking question for you: Is Gonzaga’s reliance on Ike’s streak sustainable, or does their success hinge on a deeper bench stepping up in the tournament? Let us know in the comments!
Looking ahead, Pacific hosts San Francisco on Saturday, while Gonzaga welcomes Portland on Wednesday. For those craving more college basketball insights, don’t forget to sign up for AP Top 25 poll alerts and updates via the AP News mobile app or their newsletters. Stay tuned as the season heats up!
