By Nicholas K. Geranios
Associated Press
SPOKANE — Top-ranked Gonzaga’s quest to go undefeated this season ended under a barrage of baskets by BYU’s Eric Mika on Saturday night.
Mika had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and BYU upset Gonzaga 79-71. It was the Cougars’ first victory ever over a No. 1 team, after four losses, and spoiled the Bulldogs’ perfect record in their last regular season game.
The sophomore center made 10 of 14 shots from the floor and 9 of 13 free throws. His biggest basket put BYU ahead 73-71 with a minute left in the game.
Gonzaga lost the ball on its next two possessions, and then Corbin Kaufusi had a putback and Mika hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Gonzaga ended a string of 15 consecutive games where it didn’t trail in the second half.
“They haven’t had anyone have a lead on them in the second half for quite a while,” BYU coach Dave Rose said. “I thought that would be a really big emotional thing for us, and an emotional thing for them to have to respond.
“You beat the No. 1 team on the road the last weekend of the season, it’s good for a lot of reasons,” Rose added.
The Cougars rallied from an early 16-point deficit, and Mika said the team never wavered in its belief it could win.
“I think all of us did and that was a big thing,” Mika said. “I don’t think a lot of teams, especially in our conference, believe 100 percent that they’re going to come in and do that.”
The Cougars scored 44 points in the second half and made nine 3-pointers to just three for Gonzaga.
Nigel Williams-Goss scored 19 points for Gonzaga (29-1, 17-1 West Coast), which was seeking to become the first team since Kentucky in 2014-15 to finish the regular season without a loss.
“Obviously, it didn’t go as we hoped,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “We missed a lot of free throws and turned the ball over too much to be able to win a close game like that.”
Gonzaga missed 13 of its 29 free throws and had 16 turnovers but still led most of the game.
“The season isn’t over,” Gonzaga guard Jordan Mathews said. “It is a great season. We’d love to be 30-0, but we are 29-1.”
T.J. Haws added 17 points and Elijah Bryant had 14 for BYU (21-10, 12-6).
The last team to finish the entire season undefeated was Indiana in 1975-76.
Gonzaga came out fired up and jumped to an 18-2 lead in the first five minutes, making 7 of 10 shots.
The Zags cooled off, and three consecutive 3-pointers by BYU’s Haws cut Gonzaga’s lead to 26-22.
Mika’s basket cut Gonzaga’s lead to one point before the Bulldogs closed with a 10-5 run to take a 41-35 lead at halftime.
Zach Collins’ putback gave Gonzaga a 58-46 lead midway through the second.
A technical foul on Gonzaga helped BYU cut its deficit to 58-53 and seemed to spark the Cougars. A pair of 3-pointers by Nick Emery cut Gonzaga’s lead to one, and Mika’s basket gave the Cougars their first lead at 61-60.
The teams traded baskets until Mika put the Cougars ahead for good.
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