Gonzaga fans gather at Hemmingson Center, around the globe to watch No. 1 team

Gonzaga alumni gathered at the John J. Hemmingson Center, the student union building at GU, to watch their alma mater remain undefeated and defeat the Saint Mary’s Gaels for the second time this season.

But it wasn’t only in Spokane that Gonzaga alumni were gathered.

Specific locations in about 30 different cities ranging across Washington, the United States, Canada, and even Tokyo were chosen as sites for Gonzaga alumni to meet and celebrate the fifth annual Gonzaga Day.

Sarah Schwering, the senior director of Marketing and Communications at Gonzaga, said the event is designed for Zag fans to gather together and celebrate being a part of Zagnation.

Multiple televisions in the Hemmingson Center were airing the Bulldogs win over the Saint Mary’s Gaels. A projector hanging from a second-story walkway and a large interactive board were also showing the Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s game on ESPN.

An auditorium in the basement was available for those wanting to watch the game in a quieter atmosphere.

“Pretty much every screen that can show the game is on right now,” Schwering said. “Then we’ve brought an additional (television) as well.”

Food and drink were available for those at the watch party and the event is also family-friendly. A coloring table had been assembled nearby for children.

Small Gonzaga pennants, stickers, lanyards, yearbooks, and red posters with “GO ZAGS” written in blue were being distributed to those at the Hemmingson Center.

Gonzaga Day is also aimed at raising money for student scholarships. Thousands of donors have contributed to the university’s goal of raising $250 million.

“It’s fun when you get to see alums come back with their families and children, kind of the next generation,” Schwering said.