Portland basketball just had its moment - and it was a big one.
On Wednesday night, the Pilots delivered the kind of win that doesn’t just shake up the standings - it rewrites the program’s history books. With an 87-80 stunner over No.
6 Gonzaga, Portland snapped a 20-game losing streak to the Zags and picked up its first win over a ranked opponent in more than a decade. And this wasn’t just any ranked team - this was a Gonzaga squad riding a 15-game win streak, sitting at 22-2, and favored by more than 20 points.
Let’s put this in perspective: Portland hadn’t beaten Gonzaga since January 9, 2014. That’s 12 years of frustration, near-misses, and blowouts - all washed away in one electric night at the Chiles Center.
As the final buzzer sounded, fans poured onto the court in celebration, and for good reason. This wasn’t just a win.
It was a statement.
This was also the first time in program history that Portland took down a team ranked in the top seven of the AP poll. And they didn’t just sneak by - they outplayed Gonzaga down the stretch, showing poise, toughness, and a refusal to back down from a powerhouse that’s dominated the WCC for two decades.
Statistically, this was a rare stumble for Gonzaga. The Zags hadn’t lost to a team ranked outside the top 200 in KenPom since an overtime loss at San Francisco back in 2010.
Portland came in at No. 213.
That’s not just an upset - that’s a seismic shift.
And the timing? Even more brutal for Gonzaga.
Their only other loss this season came in a blowout against Michigan, a team projected as a No. 1 seed. Portland, on the other hand, entered with a 10-14 record and a NET ranking of 230.
This one is going to sting when Selection Sunday rolls around. Early projections suggest the Zags could slip from a No. 3 seed to a No. 4 as a result.
But let’s not bury the lede - this night belonged to Joel Foxwell.
The freshman guard from Australia played like a seasoned vet, torching the Zags for 27 points and setting the tone from the opening tip. He was fearless, efficient, and unshakable in the biggest game of his young career.
And when Portland needed a closer, they found one in James O’Donnell. The sophomore forward - also hailing from Australia - came alive in the second half, pouring in all 16 of his points after the break and helping seal the biggest win in school history.
For Portland fans, the timing couldn’t have been sweeter. With Gonzaga set to leave the WCC for the Pac-12 next season, this marked the Zags’ final visit to the Chiles Center as a conference rival.
Gonzaga had owned this matchup under head coach Mark Few, going 47-3 against the Pilots. But on this night, that dominance didn’t matter.
Portland showed up, showed out, and sent their longtime conference nemesis packing with a loss they won’t forget anytime soon.
This wasn’t just a win for the Pilots - it was a moment. And in college basketball, those moments are everything.