Overview
- Graham Ike powered Gonzaga with 28 points and 10 rebounds, and Braden Huff added 20 as the Zags improved to 8-1 with their third Top 25 win.
- Gonzaga opened on a 19-2 burst, led 43-20 at halftime and never trailed in a wire-to-wire rout before a largely Kentucky crowd.
- The Bulldogs shot 57% from the field and 9-of-18 from three, outrebounding Kentucky 43-31; the Wildcats shot 27% overall and 7-of-34 from deep.
- Kentucky fell to 5-4 with a fourth loss to a ranked opponent this season as fans booed at halftime; Pope called the boos "incredibly well-deserved" and vowed to fix the team’s issues.
- Kentucky remained short-handed with Mouhamed Dioubate and Jayden Quaintance out as Jaland Lowe returned in a limited role, while Gonzaga’s adjusted starting group helped spark a sharper defensive effort after the recent Michigan blowout.