Gonzaga’s Graham Ike and Khalif Battle Deliver Powerful Statement After WCC Semifinal Victory Over San Francisco

What Gonzaga’s Graham Ike and Khalif Battle Said After WCC Semifinal Win Over San Francisco

Graham Ike and Khalif Battle combined for 48 points, leading the Gonzaga men’s basketball team to a victory over San Francisco in the semifinal of the West Coast Conference tournament at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas, securing a spot in the WCC championship game.

Ike, who was recently named to the All-WCC first team, delivered a standout performance with a team-high 27 points and 10 rebounds, marking his seventh double-double of the season. The 6-foot-9 forward made an impact early in the second half, scoring four consecutive baskets and later adding two more crucial scores that pushed Gonzaga’s lead to six points with just over six minutes left after San Francisco had cut the deficit to one.

Battle helped Gonzaga regain control after halftime, hitting key shots, including a 3-pointer that put the Bulldogs up 48-42. He later added a tough midrange jumper and a few more free throws, followed by another three-pointer that made it 59-53 with under 10 minutes remaining.

Together, Ike and Battle contributed 48 points, 14 rebounds, and four steals, sending Gonzaga to its 28th consecutive WCC championship game. The Bulldogs will face No. 1 seed Saint Mary’s for the title and an automatic NCAA Tournament bid.

Here’s what Ike and Battle shared after the game:

Battle on the team’s defense in the second half: “I don’t really talk much about my scoring. I think we stepped it up defensively in the second half. A lot of guys made big plays, and my teammates stepped up in a huge way. We just have to be ready for Saint Mary’s tomorrow.”

Ike on responding after the Dons cut the lead to one with 7 minutes remaining: “It was just part of the flow of the offense. We knew they were closing the gap, so we had to stay resilient, keep pushing, and stick together as a team—and that’s what we did.”

Both on what’s needed to beat Saint Mary’s in the championship game:

• Ike: “We need to play great defense, be intentional on offense, and focus on one-shot defense while keeping them off the offensive boards.”
• Battle: “It’s all about team effort, especially on the boards. Saint Mary’s does a great job of crashing the offensive glass and slowing the game down. Offensively, we know the Zags can score, but it’s going to come down to defense and rebounding. I’m excited for this matchup. We’ve been looking forward to it, and now it’s time to get the job done.”