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Down goes Gonzaga: BYU basketball stuns No. 1 Bulldogs

By Nathan Cunningham

Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) puts up a floater against the Brigham Young Cougars forward Eric Mika (12) during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Spokane, WA, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) puts up a floater against the Brigham Young Cougars forward Eric Mika (12) during the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports /
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BYU basketball made history on Saturday night, defeating the previously undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs in The Kennel.

BYU basketball finally did it. The Cougars finally reached the level of play that so many hoped they would reach.

Playing near perfect basketball, BYU defeated the 29-0 (now 29-1) No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs, 79-71. It marks the third year in a row the Cougars have left The Kennel with a victory.

Eric Mika led the way for BYU basketball, scoring 29 points and grabbing 11 rebounds in 39 minutes of play. He (alongside Corbin Kaufusi) also played great defense on Przemek Karnowski, holding the big man to just 10 points and six rebounds.

Elijah Bryant and TJ Haws combined to score 31 on 11-of-28 shooting. Nick Emery scored just nine points, but hit big shots late.

But things didn’t start out so well for BYU.

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Gonzaga jumped out to an 18-2 lead, and most were already feeling sick. It seemed like the Cougars were once again outclassed by the top dog in the West Coast Conference. But, BYU rallied with a 19-6 run, and went into halftime trailing by six, 41-35.

The Bulldogs led for more than 34 minutes of the game, but BYU slowed down its possessions to drain the clock and continually knocked down big shots. The Cougars led for less than two minutes of game time – but obviously were on the right side of things when the clock it zeros.

The victory is the first in program history over the nation’s No. 1 team.

BYU shot 45 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, compared to the Zags’ 19 percent from 3-point land.

Soak it in, BYU basketball fans. This win was a big one. It’s the best basketball the Cougars have played all season, and it culminated in a history-making night.

Not to mention, it made the Spokesman Review look very silly.

Unfortunately, BYU basketball still needs to win the WCC Tournament if it wants to make the Big Dance. The Cougars are the No. 3 seed in Vegas and will take on Loyola Marymount.

The tournament begins on March 3 and runs through March 7. If the Cougars don’t capture the title, they’re a lock for the NIT.

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