PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — There was nothing specific that coach Mark Few could point to in an attempt to explain Gonzaga’s struggles against Portland.
Everything went wrong.
“We were just outscored, outscored, outscored in shots,” Few said. “When they made open shots, they made them. And we didn’t. Literally every phase of the game.”
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Gonzaga, sixth lost 87-80 to Pilots Wednesday night, ending a 15-game winning streak.
Favored by 21 1/2 points according to BetMGM Sportsbook, the Bulldogs (22-2, 10-1 West Coast Conference) had reeled off 20 straight victories against Portland — and 19 of them were by double digits. The Pilots’ previous victory against the Zags was on January 9, 2014, an 82-73 victory in Portland. Gonzaga was seeded #18 entering this game.
The Pilots had never beaten a team in the top 10. That win over the Bulldogs in 2014 was their last victory against a ranked opponent.
Portland led by 15 points, but Gonzaga closed the gap in the final two minutes, closing to within 84-80 with 30 seconds left. Portland, riding both its own momentum and the cheers of its home crowd, held on for the victory and fans rushed the field.
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“I think when you have a program like ours and we’re having a season like we’re having, I think you always feel like you have to respond – but then you have to respond. You can’t talk about it,” Few said of hoping Gonzaga would eventually come away victorious. “We have to go in and stop the defense.”
Graham Ike had 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Zags. The 6-foot-9 forward was coming off a 30-point performance in a win over rival Saint Mary’s at home Saturday and earned his fourth WCC Player of the Week honor. Before that, he missed three games due to right ankle soreness.
“They had more effort, more energy than us tonight,” Ike said. “Kudos to them, but we have to gut it. … It has to be better.”
The Bulldogs are still without forward Braden Huff due to a knee injury.
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Gonzaga’s only other loss this season came in December, to then No. 1.7 Michigan, 101-61, at the Players Era Championship in Las Vegas.
The Pilots (11-14, 4-8) were coming off a 104-74 loss at Washington State and a 74-51 loss at Pacific before that. So it’s no surprise that they were big underdogs against Gonzaga.
“Everything has to go right in a game like this,” Portland coach Shantay Legans said. “They had to miss some key shots and some key free throws. And our guys played with a lot of confidence and kept their composure and their composure. And I think that helped us playing at home. We’ve been pretty good at home. But every game we’ve been in, we’ve had a turnover here or something like that. Tonight it all came together.”
Joel Foxwell led Portland with 27 points and eight assists. The Pilots made 59% of their shots from the field, compared to 40% for the Zags.
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Gonzaga will look to bounce back Saturday against Oregon State, a team the Bulldogs will join next season in the rebuilt Pac-12 Conference.
Ike said: “I can promise it won’t happen again.”
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