Gonzaga Rides Graham Ike’s 34 Points as Spartans and Illini Dominate Late-Week Menu of Top-25 Showdowns
Dateline: Spokane, Washington — Jan. 8, 2026
Gonzaga weathered a challenge from Santa Clara before a raucous crowd at the McCarthey Athletic Center, pulling away in the closing minutes for an 89-77 victory that kept the No. 8 Bulldogs perfect in West Coast Conference play and on a 10-game winning streak.
Graham ike paced Gonzaga with a season-best 34 points on an efficient 13-of-17 shooting night, adding 11 rebounds to power the home win. Emmanuel Innocenti contributed 13 points, and Braden Huff added 12 as the Zags extended their edge in the all-time series to 52-6.
The visitors carried a balanced attack, led by Allen Graves with 18 points and nine boards for Santa Clara (13-5, 4-1 in the WCC).Christian Hammond chipped in 14,while Bukky Oboye and brenton Knapper added 12 and 11,respectively,as the Broncos fought to stay in striking distance in the second half.
Big Ten Roundup: Michigan State and Illinois Cruise; Northwestern Falls
In East Lansing,No. 12 michigan State pulled away late to topple Northwestern 76-66. Carson Cooper posted 18 points and nine rebounds to lead the Spartans, who improved to 14-2 overall and 4-1 in league play. Jaxon Kohler also reached 15 points with eight rebounds, while Jeremy Fears Jr. added 15 points as MSU withstood 15 turnovers to secure the win.
Northwestern was led by Nick Martinelli, who scored a game-high 28 points in the loss. The Wildcats slipped to 8-7 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten.
In Champaign, No. 16 illinois dominated Rutgers 81-55. The Illini used a dominant stretch late in the first half to seize a 43-16 halftime lead, then cruised in the second period. Keaton Wagler finished with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Tomislav Ivisic contributed 14, and jake Davis and Andrej Stojakovic added 12 apiece. Illinois improved to 12-3, 3-1, while Rutgers dipped to 8-8, 1-4. Stojakovic also grabbed eight rebounds as the Illini controlled the boards 45-32.
Rutgers freshman Kaden Powers led the visitors with 12 points, just one shy of his season high, and harun Zrno added 11 points and five rebounds as the Scarlet Knights shot 36.5% from the field and 37.5% at the line.
Game Highlights At A Glance
| Game | Rank | Final score | Top Performers | Record (Overall / conference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gonzaga vs Santa Clara | No. 8 Gonzaga | 89-77 | Graham Ike 34p, 11r; emmanuel Innocenti 13p; braden Huff 12p | Gonzaga 17-1, 5-0 WCC |
| Michigan State vs Northwestern | No. 12 Michigan State | 76-66 | Carson Cooper 18p; Jaxon Kohler 15p; Jeremy Fears Jr. 15p | MSU 14-2, 4-1 Big Ten |
| Illinois vs Rutgers | No. 16 Illinois | 81-55 | Keaton Wagler 17p; Tomislav Ivisic 14p; Stojakovic 12p | Illinois 12-3, 3-1 Big Ten |
Takeaways For Fans
- Gonzaga continues to display depth beyond its star, riding Ike’s efficient night to stretch its win streak and tighten its grip on the WCC standings.
- michigan State’s defense helped neutralize Northwestern’s offence, enabling a controlled second-half run to pull away.
- Illinois leveraged a dominant first-half surge to put Rutgers away early, showcasing a balanced attack and strong rebounding advantage.
What It Means Going Forward
With conference play intensifying, thes results underscore the value of balanced scoring, reliable defense, and rebounding. As the season advances, projections will hinge on how well teams sustain efficiency on both ends of the floor and navigate crowded schedules.
Your turn to weigh in
Which performance stood out most to you, and why?
Do these results change your view of the current top-25 landscape as we approach the midpoint of conference play?
