Pac-12 basketball is back, and Monday night gave the league a little of everything: a tight heavyweight fight, a rough home loss, and a pair of easy wins for teams that entered the season with real buzz.
The headline game belonged to Gonzaga and Purdue, and it played out like the kind of 40-minute test that can shape a team’s early résumé. Gonzaga came away with a 78-72 win, a result that looks like a likely Quad 1 victory.
Xaivian Lee made a strong debut with 18 points and three assists, knocking down three triples along the way. Davis Fogle led the Bulldogs with 22 points, and Izan Almansa added 11 off the bench.
It wasn’t clean from start to finish, but Gonzaga did enough to survive and bank a meaningful win.
The night’s ugliest result came in Pullman, where Washington State was beaten 76-61 by Davidson. The Cougars never really settled in after a slow start, and Jamari Phillips was the only starter to reach double figures with 11 points.
Washington State shot just 35% from the field and went 5-for-24 from three, a rough offensive night by any standard. Davidson may turn into a solid A-10 team, but this was still a tough loss for a program trying to climb back toward competitiveness.
Elsewhere, Utah State and Oregon State both took care of business against Big Sky opponents in convincing fashion. Utah State rolled past Idaho State 94-58 behind 26 points from Kingston Tosi.
Oregon State was even more dominant, blasting Weber State 102-61 with Daniel Freitag scoring 23 points. The competition level was lower, but for two teams with top-50 potential and at-large hopes, those kinds of wins still matter.
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Mark Few helped lead a meaningful tribute to Bill Walton by joining three other high-profile coaches in supporting a new scholarship effort tied to the Hall of Famers legacy. Few, Matt Painter, Tommy Lloyd and Mick Cronin combined to donate $32,000 to help launch the Bill Walton Foundations Shine On Scholarship, a program designed to provide college scholarships for young people overcoming homelessness.
The scholarship is aimed at cities where Walton played during his career, adding a personal layer to a cause that fits the spirit of his life and influence. Friends of Walton have also pledged matching donations, which could push the launch total as high as $128,000 and give the effort a much bigger reach as it gets underway. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Is Closing In On A Huge Backcourt Recruiting Moment
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The timing also works in Gonzagas favor, with Davis set to make an official visit to Spokane during the home opener in early November. That gives the staff a chance to showcase the program, the atmosphere and the role he could play in the future, all in front of a recruit who would immediately elevate the class if he chooses the Bulldogs. For a program that has long sold itself on player development and guard play, this is the kind of recruiting moment that can shift the conversation around an entire class. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Just Landed The Early Statement Win Fans Wanted
The early-season Big Ten spotlight produced a few eye-catching results, but Gonzagas trip to Purdue may have been the one that resonated most with fans watching for an early measuring stick. The No. 15 Bulldogs came away with a 78-72 win over the Boilermakers, a result that fits the kind of nonconference test Gonzaga has long sought as it tries to build a rsum and establish its identity before league play settles in.
Purdue had enough firepower to make it uncomfortable, with Daniel Jacobsen putting together a strong night, but Gonzaga held on when it mattered and left with a win that should carry weight beyond one November scoreboard. In a stretch that also saw UCLA knock off No. 5 Arizona and BYU handle Ohio State, the Bulldogs result stood out because it came against a high-major opponent on the road and delivered the kind of early statement their supporters were looking for. [Read more 🡒]