Skip To Main Content

Gonzaga University Athletics

Men's Basketball

No. 1 Gonzaga falls to BYU, 79-71

Feb. 25, 2017

Final Stats | USATSI photo gallery

SPOKANE, Wash. Eric Mika had 29 points and 11 rebounds to help BYU upset No. 1 Gonzaga 79-71 on Saturday night.
Nigel Williams-Goss scored 19 points for Gonzaga (29-1, 17-1 West Coast). Johnathan Williams recorded his third straight double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Mathews also had 12 points. Przemek Karnowski and Josh Perkins both scored 10 points.
Mika's basket with a minute left gave BYU (21-10, 12-6) a 73-71 lead.
Gonzaga came out fired up and jumped to an 18-2 lead in the first five minutes, making 7 of 10 shots.
The Zags cooled off and three consecutive 3-pointers by BYU's T.J. Haws cut Gonzaga's lead to 26-22.
Mika's basket cut Gonzaga's lead to one point before the Bulldogs closed with a 10-5 run to take a 41-35 lead at halftime.
Zach Collins' putback gave Gonzaga a 58-46 lead midway through the second.
A pair of 3-pointers by Nick Emery cut Gonzaga's lead to one, and Mika's basket gave the Cougars their first lead at 61-60.
The teams traded baskets until Mika put the Cougars ahead for good.
BIG PICTURE
BYU: The Cougars won the previous two games in Spokane and lost by just 10 points to the Bulldogs in Provo earlier this season. Mika averages 19.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs have won their 20th WCC title and fifth in a row. Four of the previous five teams to start the season 29-0 in the last 40 years have advanced to the Final Four.
UP NEXT
BYU plays in the WCC Tournament in Las Vegas next week.
Gonzaga plays in the WCC quarterfinals in Las Vegas next Saturday.
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Zach Collins

#32 Zach Collins

Forward
7' 0"
Freshman
Przemek Karnowski

#24 Przemek Karnowski

Center
7' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Jordan Mathews

#4 Jordan Mathews

Guard
6' 4"
Senior
Johnathan Williams

#14 Johnathan Williams

Forward
6' 9"
Junior
Nigel Williams-Goss

#5 Nigel Williams-Goss

Guard
6' 3"
Junior
Josh Perkins

#13 Josh Perkins

Guard
6' 3"
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Zach Collins

#32 Zach Collins

7' 0"
Freshman
Forward
Przemek Karnowski

#24 Przemek Karnowski

7' 1"
Redshirt Senior
Center
Jordan Mathews

#4 Jordan Mathews

6' 4"
Senior
Guard
Johnathan Williams

#14 Johnathan Williams

6' 9"
Junior
Forward
Nigel Williams-Goss

#5 Nigel Williams-Goss

6' 3"
Junior
Guard
Josh Perkins

#13 Josh Perkins

6' 3"
Freshman
Guard