NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, BYU falls, and Virginia rises in latest top-25 power ranking

11. Gonzaga Bulldogs – 7-2

Just a couple of days after a good win over USC, Gonzaga took on Arkansas-Pine Bluff of the SWAC. The Golden Lions proved to be no match for either side of the ball, as the Bulldogs scored 50+ points in both halves to win 111-71. Braden Huff led the team with 19 pts and 8 rebs off the bench, while Graham Ike and Anton Watson combined for 32 pts and 16 rebs in the frontcourt.

The next opponent was Washington, a team that Gonzaga has owned recently. But this was an improved Huskies roster, which was able to withstand a strong offensive start from the road team and a double-digit deficit in the second half to eventually take the lead in the final minutes and pull off the upset, 78-73.

Ike had 18 pts to lead the team with Nolan Hickman scoring 17 and Anton Watson having 13 pts and 13 rebs. But the scoring droughts in the second half (only 25 pts scored in the final 20 minutes) were similar to the loss to Purdue, with the Bulldogs not making a single three-point shot during that stretch.

There’s nothing shameful losing to a rival on the road and Gonzaga has the chance to make everyone forget about it if they can beat UConn in Seattle on Friday. They just have to deal with Mississippi Valley State first on Monday, something that shouldn’t be too hard to do.