Gonzaga Visits Santa Clara Saturday in High-Stakes WCC Clash
Gonzaga (24-2, 12-1) heads to the Leavey Center on Saturday, Feb. 14 for a pivotal West Coast Conference matchup with Santa Clara (22-5, 13-1). Tip is set for 10: 30 PM ET, with both teams jockeying for position as the regular season nears its final stretch.
What’s at stake in the WCC standings
Santa Clara currently holds a half-game lead over Gonzaga in the conference and has surged into first place this month. With only a handful of league games left, every result carries outsized significance: a Gonzaga victory would flip control of the top spot, while a Santa Clara win would extend its narrow edge and put extra pressure on the Zags in the closing weeks.
Recent history and January meeting
The teams met on Jan. 8, when Gonzaga handed Santa Clara its lone conference loss in an 89-77 decision. Graham Ike dominated that night with 34 points on 13-of-17 shooting and 11 rebounds, while Braden Huff contributed before suffering a knee injury days later. That January result looms large, but both rosters have evolved since then.
Injury and roster notes — Huff’s absence, Fogle’s rise
Braden Huff has not returned since spraining a left knee after the Jan. 8 game; he was averaging 17. 8 points per contest prior to the injury. Gonzaga has gone 7-1 without him, leaning on a mix of veterans and emerging players. Davis Fogle has been a revelation in Huff’s absence — over his last seven games he is averaging 11. 9 points, 4. 6 rebounds, 1. 4 assists and 1. 3 steals while logging 24. 1 minutes per night. His efficiency on twos (63%) makes him a matchup concern for Santa Clara’s perimeter defenders.
Key matchups to watch
Gonzaga will look for continued production from Graham Ike inside; his Jan. 8 performance showed he can impose himself against Santa Clara’s frontcourt. On the perimeter, senior forwards and experienced wings will need to limit the Broncos’ secondary scorers and crash the glass to create second-chance opportunities. For Santa Clara, maintaining ball security and exploiting mismatches on the wings will be critical — the Broncos have fed off balance scoring all season as they climbed the standings.
Odds, tip time and viewing notes
The game tips at 10: 30 PM ET on Saturday, Feb. 14 from the Leavey Center in Santa Clara, Calif. The matchup has attracted significant attention in betting markets and is expected to be a tightly contested affair; anticipate a charged home-court environment and a close final margin. Fans should confirm local listings for how to watch the contest live.
How Gonzaga can pull off a road win
To leave the Bay Area with a victory, Gonzaga will need balanced scoring, defend the glass, and minimize turnovers in transition. Containing the Broncos’ role players and avoiding lapses late in the shot clock will be vital. If Fogle continues his recent surge and Ike controls the paint, Gonzaga will have the offensive firepower to challenge Santa Clara’s home momentum. Conversely, if Santa Clara can stretch the floor and force Gonzaga into uncomfortable matchups, the Broncos have the tools to protect their lead atop the conference.
Saturday’s result will reshape the WCC pecking order and set the tone for the run to the conference finish. Expect both teams to bring urgency, physicality and strategic adjustments as the league race tightens.
