In-game updates, analysis of Gonzaga vs. Oregon college basketball game

A masterful second-half performance from Braeden Smith fueled Gonzaga down the stretch of a 91-82 win over Oregon Sunday from the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon.

The Bulldogs point guard scored 16 of his season-high 21 points after halftime and accounted for 13 straight points via scoring and assisting late in the second half, helping the Zags fend off a pesky Ducks squad that made it tough for Mark Few’s team all afternoon.

Oregon battled Gonzaga’s bigs in the paint and created frustration on the other end through an effective pick-and-roll that helped the Ducks get whatever look they wanted inside the arc. Nate Bittle was the beneficiary of some well-executed sets from the Ducks, as the 7-foot center scored 16 of his game-high 28 points in the first half while recording four blocks.

Gonzaga’s offense sputtered under Oregon’s pressure around the rim but thrived outside the arc, where the Zags knocked down eight 3-pointers to take a 3-point lead into the locker room. That, despite a 1-of-7 start from the floor from Graham Ike.

The Ducks, meanwhile, were 11-of-16 from inside the arc and had a 19-16 advantage on the glass through 20 minutes of play.

Gonzaga limited Oregon’s success from 2-point range in the second half, holding the Ducks to just seven makes from inside the arc. Braden Huff, who notched his fifth straight 20-point game, and Ike got to their spots quicker than they did in the first half, thanks in part to some the table setting from Smith off the bench.

Just as Oregon began making a push, cutting Gonzaga’s 12-point lead in half with 11 minutes left in regulation, Smith started getting under the Ducks’ skin with some impressive ballhandling and decision-making. His ability to lead the pick-and-roll led to some clean looks for himself and Gonzaga’s bigs, as the Zags made nine of their last 11 looks from the field to lead by as many as 15 with just over 4 minutes left after Steele Venters cashed in a big 3-pointer off a dime from Smith.

Venters finished with 14 points and was 4-of-5 from downtown for Gonzaga (12-1). Ike was much better in the second half and tallied 17 points, 11 rebounds and three assists despite shooting 4-of-14 from the field. Smith also had seven assists, was 7-of-10 from the field and didn’t commit a turnover in 27 minutes of play.

Outside of Bittle's 28 points, Kwame Evans Jr. had 14 points for Oregon (6-6), which lost its sixth game since Nov. 24. Jackson Shelstad made some big shots during his 12-point performance, though he wasn't all that consistent from the field, shooting 5-of-13 and 2-of-9 from 3 in 36 minutes of action.

It was Gonzaga’s third over a Big Ten team and its eighth over a power conference opponent this season.

Here are the major plays, highlights and storylines from the game.

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FINAL: Gonzaga 91, Oregon 82

2ND HALF

Gonzaga has Oregon on the ropes

Gonzaga 82, Oregon 67 (4:16): Braeden Smith had Oregon searching for answers as time ran out on the second half. Gonzaga's point guard accounted for 11 straight points via scoring or assisting, including a big-time dime to Steele Venters for 3 after getting Oregon's attention on a drive into the paint. Smith had a season-high 17 points and seven assists with zero turnovers heading into the final 4 minutes of play.

Gonzaga finding offensive groove

Gonzaga 73, Oregon 65 (7:07): The Braeden Smith-Braden Huff combination scored 12 consecutive points for the Zags, who made five consecutive field goals to maintain their lead heading down the stretch of the second half.

Oregon not going away quietly

Gonzaga 61, Oregon 53 (11:37): The Ducks ripped off six consecutive points after the Zags took a 12-point lead, cutting their deficit in half before Tyon Grant-Foster took advantage of a soft foul call on Ege Emir with two free throws. Oregon was keen on shutting down Graham Ike, who was forced to call a timeout after getting double-teamed near the corner. He missed nine of his first 12 looks from the field.

Zags break out their largest lead

Gonzaga 59, Oregon 47 (13:29): A quick 7-0 spurt from the Zags, capped off by a transition bucket from Braeden Smith, extended Gonzaga's advantage to 12, its largest of the night. Bulldogs outscored the Ducks 13-3 since Jackson Shelstad's stepback jumper made it a 2-point game at the 17:33 mark. The bad news for the Zags was that Braden Huff picked up his third foul and had to sit with about 14 minutes left in the second half.

Gonzaga keeping Oregon at bay

Gonzaga 50, Oregon 44 (15:38): Just when it seemed like Gonzaga was ready to take its largest lead of the night, Jackson Shelstad nailed a stepback jumper, then found Takai Simpkins in transition for a 3-pointer, cutting Gonzaga's 7-point lead to two. Graham Ike, who was 1-for-7 in the first half, got his second bucket of the second half to calm the Zags down.

HALFTIME

Gonzaga 42, Oregon 39

Tyon Grant-Foster nailed a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer, underscoring the kind of half the Zags had. Despite some offensive struggles, Gonzaga nailed eight 3-pointers and had 11 assists on 14 made field goals. Defensively, though, the Bulldogs had trouble containing Nate Bittle, who had 16 points on 7-of-12 from the field and torched Gonzaga in the pick-and-roll game. The Ducks were 11-of-16 inside the arc and had a 19-16 advantage on the glass. Braden Huff led the Bulldogs with 10 points but picked up two fouls before the 7-minute mark.

1ST HALF

Zags amp up the defensive pressure

Oregon 35, Gonzaga 34 (2:19): Gonzaga deployed a halfcourt press and got immediate results, with Adam Miller getting a steal and throwing ahead a pass to Tyon Grant-Foster for an easy two. The ensuing trip down the floor for the Ducks ended with a timeout, as the Zags had Oregon's ballhandler trapped near midcourt.

Rough stretch from the Bulldogs

Oregon 33, Gonzaga 30 (3:35): A rough 5 minute stretch for the Zags saw them go from up eight to down three. In that span, they went 1-for-9 from the field and had their leading scorer, Braden Huff, pick up his second foul at the 7:09 mark.

Pick-and-roll giving Zags trouble

Gonzaga 26, Oregon 23 (8:17): For all the good Gonzaga had done on the offensive end, some miscommunication while defending Oregon's pick-and-roll prevented the Zags from pulling away from the Ducks. Nate Bittle's easy layup off an assist from Ege Demir prompted a timeout from Mark Few, as the Bulldogs' 8-point lead dwindled to three with just over 8 minutes left in the half.

3s are flying

Gonzaga 17, Oregon 16 (11:30): Everyone, including the frontcourt players, was letting it fly from deep early on, though the guards and wings were having the most success from 3-point land. After Steele Venters drained a couple from downtown, Adam Miller checked in and immediately cashed in a couple of looks of his own, putting the Bulldogs in front at the 12-minute media timeout. Jackson Shelstad and Nate Bittle converted from 3 for Oregon, though Gonzaga was 5-for-7 to start.

Cash 🤑 pic.twitter.com/b06EAgU56h
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) December 21, 2025

Post-play dictating flow early on

Oregon 12, Gonzaga 11 (13:50): Gonzaga wanted to get its bigs into a rhythm early on, feeding Braden Huff and Graham Ike in the post despite some aggressive defense from the Ducks. Ike and Huff attempted six of the Zags' first eight shots, though Oregon's Nate Bittle came ready to play. The 7-foot center had two blocks and drained a 3-pointer early on.