Some nights feel bigger than the score. Wednesday in Portland was one of those nights. Inside the Chiles Center, the Portland Pilots didn’t just beat No. 6 Gonzaga Bulldogs 87-80, they flipped a piece of program history that had stood untouched for more than a decade.
When the final horn sounded, the crowd didn’t hesitate. Fans poured onto the floor, players embraced, and a sense of disbelief hung in the air. Portland had finally beaten Gonzaga again. Not only that, the Pilots had taken down a top-seven team for the first time ever. Against a Zags squad riding a 15-game winning streak and favored by more than 20 points, this was the kind of win people in the building will talk about for years.
The game where Portland never blinked
Portland played like a team that refused to be intimidated by the logo on the other jersey. The Pilots jumped out early, punched first, and kept answering every Gonzaga run. Even when the Bulldogs briefly grabbed a two-point lead late in the first half, Portland steadied itself and closed the period on a strong run to take a 39-33 advantage into halftime.
That composure never faded. Gonzaga never found a stretch where it could fully impose its will, and every time the Zags looked ready to surge, Portland had an answer waiting.
Joel Foxwell announces himself
This game will forever be linked to Joel Foxwell. The freshman guard from Australia was fearless, confident, and completely in control. Foxwell finished with 27 points and eight assists, slicing through Gonzaga’s defense and hitting big shots whenever the moment demanded it.
His performance was backed by timely help. Sophomore forward James O’Donnell scored all 16 of his points after halftime, repeatedly delivering baskets that quieted Gonzaga rallies and kept the crowd roaring. It was a complete team effort, but Foxwell was the engine that drove it.
A rare off night for Gonzaga
For Gonzaga, almost nothing came easily. The Bulldogs struggled to string together stops, allowed Portland to shoot at an elite clip, and spent much of the night chasing instead of dictating. Shot selection became an issue as the Zags leaned too heavily on perimeter attempts and couldn’t consistently get downhill.
Afterward, head coach Mark Few was candid, crediting Portland for simply being better across the board on this night.
Why this upset matters beyond one night
This loss is more than a blemish in the standings. It is expected to nudge Gonzaga down a seed line in NCAA Tournament projections, a reminder of how thin the margin can be at the top. It also marked the Bulldogs’ final trip to Portland as a West Coast Conference opponent, adding an extra layer of symbolism to the result.
For Portland, though, the meaning runs deeper than bracket math. This was validation for a program that had been knocking on the door, enduring close calls, and waiting for a breakthrough moment. On Wednesday night, that moment arrived in full, unforgettable fashion.