Gonzaga Defeats Arizona State 88-80

In a thrilling nonconference matchup, the No. 6 Gonzaga Bulldogs narrowly defeated Arizona State 88-80, with Khalif Battle scoring all 19 of his points in the second half to secure the victory. Gonzaga, which shot 50% from the field, was led by Braden Huff's 21 points off the bench and a double-double from Ryan Nembhard with 13 points and 11 assists. Arizona State's Basheer Jihad was the game’s high scorer with 22 points, but the Sun Devils struggled to maintain momentum in the second half despite a strong start. Gonzaga's second-half performance was highlighted by key plays, including an alley-oop dunk from Battle that tied the game and a critical three-pointer that extended their lead. With this win, Gonzaga improved to 2-0 while Arizona State fell to 2-1. The match showcased Gonzaga’s depth and versatility, solidifying their status as a national title contender early in the season.