NCAA basketball

PULLMAN – For a moment, Washington State appeared like they were about to stun everyone in the gym.

BOZEMAN, Montana – Montana State outclassed Idaho's potent offense and the Bobcats showed why they're the Big Sky Conference favorites, routing the Vandals 99-66 on Saturday at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

PULLMAN – Washington State set a season-high for points scored, but it wasn’t enough against the West Coast Conference’s top offense.

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho’s Circadian rhythm has the blues.

The situation Eastern Washington found itself in late during Saturday’s game against Montana was a situation the Eagles’ men’s basketball team has been in many times this year: trailing, but victory within reach, so long as most of the final possessions went the Eagles’ way.

The final score is going to suggest that the Gonzaga women’s basketball team had no difficulty with the Portland Pilots.

Gonzaga didn’t encounter too many pressure situations while mostly bulldozing through a nonconference schedule loaded with high-major foes and top 25 opponents.

MOSCOW, Idaho – The aptly named Money Williams led all scorers with 35 points for Montana, and the Grizzlies (9-7, 3-0 in the Big Sky Conference) needed all but the last two to secure a 79-73 win against an Idaho team that clawed its way back from an early 15-point deficit and held a two-point lead with 1:25 remaining.

The Oregon State women’s basketball team jumped on Washington State early and often Thursday, and the Cougars never recovered.

PULLMAN – Slowly but surely, a wide grin washes across the face of Eemeli Yalaho, who has played a key role in Washington State’s recent turnaround. On a Thursday afternoon, the Cougars are shooting around as they begin practice, putting up shots and chatting with each other. They’ve won five of their last six games. They’re up.

After their lead was wrested away with a swift 12-0 Montana State run, the Eastern Washington Eagles sprang back to life offensively to make what looked like a safe Bobcats victory a close one in the end.

Opponents have a hard enough time dealing with Graham Ike when the Gonzaga forward is only converting a high percentage of his shots around the basket.

Graham Ike had his best scoring output in a Gonzaga uniform on Thursday with 34 points in a win over the Broncos at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Three takeaways from Gonzaga’s 89-77 win over Santa Clara on Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Several stats tell the tale of Gonzaga’s 89-77 victory over Santa Clara late Thursday night, including Graham Ike’s 34 points, GU’s 57.6% shooting from the field and a decisive 17-0 spurt midway through the second half. Not to be overlooked: Santa Clara’s 7 of 26 showing behind the 3-point arc.

Gonzaga’s Graham Ike is still being one of considered for one of college basketball’s most prestigious postseason honors.

At the conclusion of Dan Monson’s first year as Eastern Washington’s head men’s basketball coach, one of the team’s glaring needs was more size at forward.

Christian Hammond committed to Santa Clara in October 2022. The 6-foot-4 guard officially joined Herb Sendek’s program in 2023-24, but injuries limited him to only 19 games as a freshman. With a deep group of guards and wings on Santa Clara’s roster in 2024-25, extended playing time appeared unlikely for Hammond, so the Colorado native elected to redshirt, chalking the decision up to “me just doing my part.”

Through one week, the West Coast Conference has had some interesting results. One thing is clear: The transfer portal has allowed some parity to develop.