SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — Gonzaga broke open a tie game at halftime with a dominant second half to defeat Santa Clara 89-77 in a West Coast Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at McCarthey Athletic Center. The teams were knotted at 37 at intermission before the Bulldogs outscored the Broncos 52-40 after the break. Graham Ike led all scorers with 34 points for Gonzaga, which improved to 17-1. Allen Graves paced Santa Clara with 18 points as the Broncos fell to 13-5. Gonzaga’s victory came before a crowd of 6,000 and extended its strong start to conference play.

SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a staggering second-half surge, the Gonzaga Bulldogs showcased their offensive firepower and separated from a determined Santa Clara squad for an 89-77 victory in a West Coast Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at a sold-out McCarthey Athletic Center. The contest was a tale of two halves, with the first period ending in a 37-37 deadlock. The second half, however, belonged entirely to the Bulldogs, who erupted for 52 points on remarkably efficient shooting to pull away. Gonzaga improved to 17-1 overall, while Santa Clara fell to 13-5. The most important part of the game was Gonzaga’s overwhelming offensive execution after halftime. After matching Santa Clara shot for shot in the first half, the Bulldogs shifted into a gear the Broncos could not match. They scored on their first four possessions of the second half, part of a 12-5 run that established a lead they would never relinquish. Gonzaga shot a blistering 34 of 59 from the floor for the game, a 57.6% clip, and dominated the interior with 50 points in the paint. Gonzaga’s dominance was personified by forward Graham Ike. The 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior from Aurora, Colorado, was virtually unstoppable, scoring a game-high 34 points in just 32 minutes. He was efficient from the field and aggressive in drawing fouls, contributing to a Gonzaga advantage at the free-throw line where they made 15 of 21 attempts. Ike also added a block and was a central figure in Gonzaga’s control of the paint. Santa Clara, which entered the game on a four-game winning streak, was led by forward Allen Graves. The 6-foot-9 sophomore from Ponchatoula, Louisiana, fought hard for 18 points. Center Bukky Oboye, a 7-foot-1 freshman from Houston, added 12 points and a block, while guards Brenton Knapper and Christian Hammond chipped in 11 and 14 points, respectively. Despite the final margin, the Broncos were competitive for much of the night. They forced 13 Gonzaga turnovers, converting them into 18 points, and out-rebounded the Bulldogs on the offensive glass, 12-8. However, Santa Clara’s shooting struggles proved decisive. The Broncos made just 28 of 65 field goal attempts, including 7 of 26 from three-point range. Their offensive rating of 104.6 paled in comparison to Gonzaga’s elite mark of 120.3, as both teams had an identical 74 possessions. Gonzaga received balanced support behind Ike. Emmanuel Innocenti, a 6-foot-5 guard from Petit Badien, Ivory Coast, provided a key spark with 13 points off the bench. Forward Braden Huff contributed 12 points, and the backcourt duo of Mario Saint-Supery and Tyon Grant-Foster combined for 13 points and 7 assists, facilitating the Bulldogs’ efficient attack. The game’s turning point came early in the second half. After Santa Clara’s Oboye hit a three-pointer to keep the deficit at 44-42 with 17:46 remaining, Gonzaga unleashed a decisive 14-3 run over the next four minutes. The spurt was fueled by Ike’s interior scoring and capped by an Emmanuel Innocenti three-pointer, pushing the lead to 58-45 and forcing Santa Clara into a timeout. The Broncos would not get within single digits again. Santa Clara’s defense, which had been sturdy in the first half, had no answer for Gonzaga’s precision after the break. The Bulldogs committed only four turnovers in the second half and assisted on several of their 15 made field goals during the period, demonstrating a cohesive and potent offensive performance that overwhelmed the visitors. The announced attendance of 6,000 at the Kennel witnessed a Gonzaga team that has now won five consecutive games since its lone loss at Michigan in November. The Bulldogs, who were installed as 15-point favorites pregame, have won their first two WCC contests by an average of 20.5 points. Santa Clara will look to rebound quickly, returning home to host Loyola Marymount on Saturday. Gonzaga continues its conference schedule with a road test at Washington State next Thursday. The victory extended Gonzaga’s home winning streak and solidified its position atop the WCC standings early in the conference season, while Santa Clara’s performance, though ultimately not enough, demonstrated the competitiveness that has led to its strong start to the year.

SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — A clash of the West Coast Conference’s top teams arrives Thursday when the Santa Clara Broncos visit the third-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs at McCarthey Athletic Center. The matchup features the conference’s hottest team in Santa Clara (13-4, 2-0 WCC) against its perennial powerhouse in Gonzaga (16-1, 2-0). The Broncos have won five straight, including a 98-70 rout of San Diego on Sunday, and are off to their best start in decades. The Bulldogs, whose only loss came at Michigan in November, have won 11 consecutive games and are 8-0 at home. Santa Clara’s surge has been fueled by guard Christian Hammond. Over his last eight games, the junior is averaging 17.1 points and 3.0 assists, including a 21-point effort in Sunday’s win. He will need to be prolific against a deep Gonzaga defense. The Bulldogs counter with a balanced attack led by guard Mario Saint-Supery, who is averaging 8.6 points and 3.9 assists. In Gonzaga’s 82-47 victory over Loyola Marymount on Sunday, Saint-Supery posted 13 points and five assists. Forward Graham Ike, who had 16 points in that game, provides a consistent interior presence. History heavily favors the Bulldogs, who have won 45 of the last 46 meetings in the series. Santa Clara’s last win in Spokane was in 2011. The Broncos’ strong start, featuring nonconference wins over Minnesota and a narrow loss to Arizona State, suggests they are equipped for a stiffer challenge this time. Thursday’s winner gains early control of the WCC race. Gonzaga aims to protect its home floor and maintain its dominance, while Santa Clara looks to prove its record is no fluke and secure a program-defining victory. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. EST on ESPN2.