Recap, analysis from Gonzaga's blowout win over Southern Utah

Zags host the Thunderbirds at the Kennel

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15). | Photo by Myk Crawford

If there was an optimal way to bounce back from a short turnaround ahead of the biggest test on the regular season schedule, Gonzaga’s thorough drubbing of Southern Utah on Monday exemplified just that.

A week before they take on Alabama in the first round of an NIL-driven multi-team event, the Bulldogs (5-0) cashed in an opportunity to iron out any wrinkles before their Las Vegas trip in a 122-50 triumph over the Thunderbirds (1-4), marking the second-biggest margin of victory in program history.

The 122 points scored by Gonzaga were also the second-most scored in McCarthey Athletic Center history. Thirteen Bulldogs registered at least two points, with Braden Huff’s 22 leading the way.

Coming off a gutsy win over Arizona State, Gonzaga’s intensity seemingly never dropped off in the 72 hours in between Friday night’s physical battle in the desert and Monday’s contest at McCarthey Athletic Center, as the Bulldogs held their Western Athletic Conference opponent to 18-of-61 from the field and scored 27 points off 23 turnovers.

Mario Saint-Supéry led the defensive effort with six steals on top of scoring 16 points and dishing out seven assists in his first collegiate start. 

Gonzaga shot 49-of-72 (68.1%) from the field and matched Southern Utah’s total output in bench points alone (50).

Here is the live updates recap.

2ND HALF

Gonzaga 101, Southern Utah 40 (6:04): Davis Fogle threw down a one-hand jam after intercepting a pass at the top of the key, marking turnover No. 20 for Southern Utah. Mario Saint-Supéry had a nice up-and-under finish moments later to push Gonzaga over the 100-point for the first time in the 2025-26 season.

Gonzaga 97, Southern Utah 40 (7:34): The Kennel started to clear out at the 8-minute media timeout, following a 3-pointer from Adam Miller to make it a 57-point lead for the Zags. The Bulldogs set a new season-high with 19 forced turnovers.

Gonzaga 84, Southern Utah 37 (11:50): All 11 players to touch the floor Gonzaga scored after Braeden Smith drained the Zags' fourth 3-pointer of the night.

Gonzaga 72, Southern Utah 34 (15:18): Adam Miller drove through the teeth of the defense and got his fourth made bucket to drop, furthering Gonzaga's largest lead of the ballgame. The Thunderbirds still didn't have as many baskets from the field (13) as turnovers committed (16) through 25 minutes.

HALFTIME RECAP

Gonzaga 59, Southern Utah 27

Defense Bulldogs, defense: The Zags smothered the Thunderbirds, forcing 14 turnovers and allowing only 10 made field goals through the first 20 minutes of play. Southern Utah had a stretch of 10 consecutive misses spanning roughly 5 minutes of game time, until Elijah Duval's layup at the 1:18 mark snapped the cold streak.

Super Mario: The freshman guard was superb on both ends of the floor in the first half. On top of 11 points and four assists offensively, Saint-Supéry snagged five steals in the first half of his first collegiate start, including one toward the end of the half that gave the Zags a 32-point lead.

Spreading the wealth: Ten of the 11 players to see the floor for the Zags in the first half scored at least two points, with Graham Ike and Mario Saint-Supéry leading the way at 11 points apiece. Braeden Smith was the only player without a bucket on Gonzaga's side. The Bulldogs shot 24-of-38 (63.2%) from the field and made 13 of their last 18 looks before halftime.

Defense 👉 Offense
Tyon Grant-Foster HAMMERS the lob from Adam Miller@ZagMBB is on fire🔥 pic.twitter.com/N5u5nt2zii

— SWX Local Sports (@SWXLocalSports) November 18, 2025

1ST HALF

Gonzaga 50, Southern Utah 21 (2:48): Another defensive stop leads to a transition bucket for the Zags, who went ahead by 29 points after Ismaila Diagne blocked a layup from Kai Burdick, leading to a 4-on-1 break and score for Steele Venters. With that bucket, nine of the 10 players to see the floor for Gonzaga scored — Braeden Smith being the exception with just under 3 minutes until half.

Gonzaga 40, Southern Utah 16 (7:27): Gonzaga led by 24 at the 12-minute media timeout but it felt like the lead should've been wider based on the Zags' defensive intensity. Constant ball pressure and anticpitatory plays on the perimeter caused 12 turnovers and yielded only six made baskets to the Thunderbirds through the first 12.5 minutes of game play. Gonzaga also started 16-of-26 from the field offensively.

Gonzaga 30, Southern Utah 12 (9:32): Eventful sequence from the Zags started with a tough finish from Mario Saint-Supéry, a nice recover and emphatic rejection from Tyon Grant-Foster on the other and a near 4-point play from Saint-Supéry, who converted at the foul line with thee free throws.

Gonzaga 23, Southern Utah 12 (10:40): The Thunderbirds finally found some sort of rhythm offensively through Tanner Hayhurst, who knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to make it an 11-point game with about 11 minutes left in the half. Graham Ike answered with a turnaround jumper.

Gonzaga 17, Southern Utah 4 (13:20): Isiah Cottrell snapped the Thunderbirds' scoring drought with a pair of makes at the charity stripe after getting fouled by Jalen Warley. Souther Utah started 1-of-7 from the field with seven turnovers.

Gonzaga 11, Southern Utah 2 (14:58): Gonzaga's defense suffocated Southern Utah early on, forcing five turnovers on the Thunderbirds' first eight possessions to jump out to an early lead. Cale Barclay had the Thunderbirds' first points with a layup at the 16-minute mark.

Gonzaga 9, Southern Utah 0 (17:19): Adam Miller tossed one up toward the rim for Tyon Grant-Foster to finish off, giving the Zags a 6-0 lead before Mario Saint-Supéry drained the game's first 3-pointer moments later.

Gonzaga 2, Southern 0 (19:38): Graham Ike got the Zags on the board first with a signature post move and bucket.

PREGAME

Starting lineup change: Mario Saint-Supéry made his first collegiate start Monday. Tyon Grant-Foster, Adam Miller, Graham Ike and Braden Huff rounded out the Zags' first five.