Gonzaga Set to Host Pacific in WCC Showdown SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — The Gonzaga Bulldogs, riding a wave of dominant victories, will host the Pacific Tigers in a West Coast Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at McCarthey Athletic Center. Gonzaga (26-2, 12-1 WCC) enters as one of the nation’s hottest teams, having won 10 of its last 11 games. The Bulldogs are coming off an 80-59 road rout of San Francisco on Wednesday, a performance emblematic of their season-long prowess. Their lone conference loss was an 87-80 setback at Portland on Feb. 4. Pacific (17-12, 7-6) seeks a season-defining upset but faces a steep challenge. The Tigers have lost three of their last four, including an 87-70 non-conference defeat at Washington State on Wednesday. They are 1-5 on the road in WCC play this season. The matchup features a stark contrast in strengths. Gonzaga’s attack is powered by forward Graham Ike, who has been a model of consistency. Ike is averaging 24.2 points over his last six games, including a 35-point outburst at Oregon State on Feb. 7. He scored 22 points with three assists and two blocks in the win over San Francisco. Pacific will counter with guard TJ Wainwright, its leading offensive threat. Wainwright has scored in double figures in eight consecutive games, averaging 14.8 points during that stretch. He poured in 27 points in a 92-59 win at Pepperdine on Feb. 7. In the loss to Washington State, he played 32 minutes, contributing 11 points and four assists. The Bulldogs have dominated the recent series, winning the last 22 meetings. In their first matchup this season on Jan. 3, Gonzaga secured an 85-62 victory in Stockton, California. Ike led all scorers with 24 points in that game, while Wainwright was held to nine points for Pacific. For the Tigers to challenge, they must improve their road defense against a Gonzaga offense averaging 81.2 points per game. The Bulldogs have won their 13 home games this season by an average margin of 24.2 points. Following this game, Gonzaga will prepare for a pivotal road test at Saint Mary’s next Saturday. Pacific returns home to host San Francisco on Feb. 28. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST on ESPNU.