Gonzaga vs. Seattle: Zags Host Red-Hot WCC Newcomer in Historic 50th Meeting
FRIDAY, JAN. 2 | 6 P.M. PT | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER | SPOKANE
Gonzaga is rolling into the new year with momentum, and Friday night’s matchup against Seattle University brings more than just another conference game - it marks the 50th all-time meeting between these two programs, and their first showdown since 1977. The Redhawks, now officially a member of the West Coast Conference, return to Spokane for the first time in decades, stepping into a McCarthey Athletic Center where the Zags haven’t lost a WCC home opener under Mark Few.
Zags Keep Rolling
Coming off a high-scoring 99-93 road win over San Diego, the Bulldogs showed once again why they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the country. Jalen Warley powered the win with 22 points and 14 rebounds, leading a balanced attack that featured five Zags in double figures.
Tyon Grant-Foster added 18, while Mario Saint-Supery and Braden Huff chipped in 14 each. Graham Ike, who continues to pile up career milestones, posted 11 points and nine boards in just 23 minutes.
The numbers paint a clear picture: Gonzaga dominated the glass (44-27), crushed San Diego in second-chance points (22-8), and overwhelmed them in the paint (60-36). That’s the kind of physical, inside-out basketball that’s become a hallmark of this team’s identity.
Braden Huff Nears Milestone
Huff is just 15 points away from becoming the fifth current Zag to hit the 1,000-point mark in his career - a testament to the depth and experience on this roster. He’s also leading the nation in made field goals (124) and is shooting a blistering 66.7% from the field, including over 70% inside the arc. Efficiency like that doesn’t just happen - it’s the result of smart shot selection, great ball movement, and a system that plays to his strengths.
Graham Ike: Rare Company
Speaking of milestones, Graham Ike recently joined an exclusive club, becoming just the second player in Gonzaga history to record 1,000 career rebounds - and he did it in just 14 games this season. With 382 of those boards coming during his time at Wyoming, Ike now sits at 1,014 rebounds and counting.
He’s also second among all active Division I players in both points (2,187) and rebounds, trailing only Indiana’s Tucker DeVries in scoring. No other active player in the country has both 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds - that’s elite, all-time level production.
Ike’s dominance hasn’t gone unnoticed. He was named a preseason All-American by CBS Sports and ESPN and is on the watch lists for every major national player of the year award: NABC, Wooden, Lute Olson, and Naismith.
Zags by the Numbers
Gonzaga’s statistical profile is as impressive as it gets. The Bulldogs are one of only four teams in the country ranked in the Top 12 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, according to KenPom (4th in offense, 12th in defense). They’re leading the WCC - and ranking among the national leaders - in a host of categories:
- Scoring Margin: +24.6 (6th nationally)
- Scoring Offense: 93.0 PPG (12th)
- Rebounds: 43.4 RPG (10th)
- Rebound Margin: +11.9 (9th)
- Assists: 20.5 APG (8th)
- Assist-to-Turnover Ratio: 1.96 (6th)
- Field Goal Percentage: 52.5% (7th)
- Three-Point Defense: 28.8%
- Three-Point Shooting: 37.9%
- Turnover Margin: +4.4 (23rd)
- Bench Points: 37.3 PPG (15th)
- Fast-Break Points: 16.3 PPG
- Turnovers: Just 10.5 per game
And here’s a stat that jumps off the page: Gonzaga leads the entire nation in points in the paint, averaging 48.7 per game. That’s an interior assault most teams simply can’t match - and it shows in their 175 more made two-pointers than their opponents.
Seattle Scouting Report
Seattle comes in fresh off a milestone of its own - the Redhawks earned their first-ever WCC win Tuesday, taking down Washington State 69-55. Brayden Maldonado led the way with 15 points, while former Zag Jun Seok Yeo added 10. Despite being outrebounded 54-28, Seattle’s defense was the story, holding WSU to just 29% shooting and a frigid 4-of-27 from three.
Maldonado is the Redhawks’ go-to scorer, averaging 15.7 points per game and hitting 42.1% of his threes. Will Heimbrodt adds 13.5 points and 4.5 boards, while Yeo contributes 11.7 points per game. Austin Maurer leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 per game, and Maleek Arlington dishes out 4.67 assists per contest.
Seattle will need every bit of that defensive grit and perimeter shooting to keep pace with the Zags in Spokane.
Series History
This will be the 50th meeting between Gonzaga and Seattle, but the first since 1980. Seattle leads the all-time series 39-10, with most of those games coming in the 1950s and '60s when both programs were independents or members of the old West Coast Athletic Conference.
The last time these two teams met, Seattle came away with a win - but that was nearly half a century ago. A lot has changed since then, especially in Spokane.
Up Next: Loyola Marymount
After Seattle, Gonzaga turns its attention to a familiar WCC foe in Loyola Marymount. The Zags own an 83-22 edge in the all-time series and have won 34 of the last 36 matchups. Under Mark Few, Gonzaga is 51-4 against LMU, including a 42-7 mark at home.
Their last meeting in Spokane saw the Bulldogs pull away late for a 73-53 win, sparked by a 28-5 run in the final 10 minutes. Khalif Battle led the way with 24 points, with Huff and Ike also making big contributions.
Non-Conference Dominance
Before diving into WCC play, Gonzaga wrapped up what might be its most impressive non-conference schedule ever. The Zags went 12-1, including a program-record eight wins over teams from power conferences.
Their average margin of victory in those games? A jaw-dropping 24.8 points - and that jumps to 30.1 if you remove the Michigan game.
Eleven of those 12 wins came by double digits, with only a last-second Oregon layup preventing a clean sweep in that category. No team in the nation has more double-digit non-conference wins this season.
Ranked Wins Piling Up
Gonzaga’s win over No. 25 UCLA marked its fourth victory over a ranked opponent this season - tied for second-most in the nation alongside UConn and Duke.
Only Arizona has more with five. For context, the Zags had just three ranked wins all of last season.
Final Word
Gonzaga is firing on all cylinders - offensively, defensively, and in the win column. With a roster full of veterans, national award candidates, and elite depth, the Zags are proving once again that they’re not just contenders in the WCC - they’re a legitimate threat on the national stage.
Seattle’s arrival in the conference adds a new wrinkle to the WCC race, but if the Bulldogs keep playing like this, it’s going to take a near-perfect game to knock them off. Friday night in Spokane should be another step forward for a team that’s already shown it can beat anyone, anywhere.