Gonzaga Bounces Back with Gritty 89-73 Win Over Indiana

It was WHISTLE! a pretty ugly WHISTLE! game, but in the end, the Gonzaga WHISTLE! Bulldogs were able WHISTLE! to pull off a WHISTLE! win over WHISTLE! The WHISTLE! Hoosiers WHISTLE!

After a frustrating overtime loss to West Virginia, the Zags needed a reset—and they got it. Facing Mike Woodson’s Indiana Hoosiers in the second round of the Battle 4 Atlantis Tournament, Gonzaga shook off the cobwebs and pulled off an 89-73 win. It wasn’t the prettiest game (*WHISTLE!*), but it was exactly what the Bulldogs needed to move forward.

Quick Start, Sloppy Middle

The Zags came out firing, opening with a 9-1 run and setting the pace they thrive on. Pushing the tempo early, they looked more like the Gonzaga team we’re used to seeing and less like whatever that was who showed up to face West Virginia. The officiating intervened, however. For the record, in all my years of watching basketball I have never once seen a player catch an intentional elbow to the back of the head and be whistled for a flagrant 1, themselves. It was that kind of game. It was these kinds of calls plus a feisty Oumar Ballo that kept Indiana within striking distance for a while. The Hoosiers took advantage of some early whistles and chipped away at the lead, refusing to let Gonzaga pull away completely.

By the 12-minute mark, both teams were already in the bonus, turning the first half into a parade of whistles and free throws. Despite the constant stops, Gonzaga kept their foot on the gas as much as they could and tightened the defense with five minutes left, unleashing a 19-4 run to build some separation. Ryan Nembhard orchestrated the offense brilliantly, dishing out nine first-half assists, including some key setups for Ben Gregg. Gregg, who had been relatively quiet in previous games, found his groove with a couple of buckets around the rim and a much-needed three-pointer (his first of the season) to extend the lead.

Small-Ball Experiment

We also got a sneak peek at an intriguing new lineup featuring Battle, Ajayi, Gregg, Hickman, and Innoccenti. This “all hustle” group flew around the court, causing chaos on both ends. It wasn’t always clear who was playing where or what position they were supposed to be playing, but it worked, kind of. The versatility of this lineup allowed Gonzaga to maintain their pace and defensive intensity, even with key players on the bench. If the Zags can rely on Hickman and Battle to take over at the 1 and 2 to give Nembhard a breather without the offense stalling, they’ll be in great shape for tougher matchups down the stretch.

Ballo’s Big Night (and Indiana’s Only Bright Spot)

Oumar Ballo was a force, leading all scorers with 25 points—most of them in the first half. His combination of size and skill made him a tough matchup for Gonzaga’s frontcourt, especially when saddled with dubious foul trouble. Unfortunately for Indiana, Ballo was their only consistent weapon. With just four rebounds and persistent foul trouble, he couldn’t carry the Hoosiers alone. As the game wore on, Indiana struggled to find scoring from other sources, and their lack of depth became increasingly apparent. The Hoosiers went into halftime trailing 57-39, with Gonzaga firmly in control.

Fouls, Fouls, and More Fouls

The second half started much like the first: the Zags stayed hot, and the refs stayed busy. Within three minutes, Graham Ike picked up his third and fourth fouls, forcing Gonzaga to dig deeper into their bench. Braden Huff came in but immediately got whistled for a questionable foul—without even a second ticking off the clock. Ajayi followed with a foul of his own, also on an inbound play. In total, five fouls were called in just 10 seconds of game time, 4 of them on the Zags.

With Ike and Huff sidelined, Gonzaga leaned into a small-ball lineup once again. Ajayi and Gregg took turns at the 4 and 5, and while the Zags sacrificed some size and rim protection, they gained speed, floor spacing, and a more fluid offensive attack. The duo’s ability to stretch the floor and chase down loose balls gave Gonzaga a unique edge that they lack when focused too intently on the inside-out game with Nembhard and Ike/Huff.

By the midway point of the second half, 42 fouls had been called. It was an ugly, choppy game, but Gonzaga adapted, hit 21 of 22 free throws, and kept rotating fresh legs to stay ahead. The depth and composure they showed in navigating the foul trouble highlighted just how different this team is from last year’s squad.

Flashes of Brilliance

Despite the stop-and-go nature of the game, Gonzaga managed to show flashes of their signature brilliance. Big shots from Ike, Nembhard, and Hickman, along with some clutch defensive stops, kept the Hoosiers from gaining any real momentum. Even when the game felt like a whistle-fest, Gonzaga’s ability to execute in key moments stood out.

The final 10 minutes were an occasionally thrilling but mostly excruciating slog—think eating birthday cake while watching paint dry. There were moments of excitement, but the constant stoppages made it hard for either team to find a rhythm. Still, the Zags did what they needed to do: hold on, execute when it mattered, and secure a much-needed win after a tough loss.

Balanced Attack Seals the Deal

Six Zags scored in double figures:

• Ryan Nembhard: 11 points, 13 assists, 5 steals
• Graham Ike: 14 points
• Michael Ajayi: 15 points, 9 rebounds (5 offensive)
• Nolan Hickman: 15 points
• Khalif Battle: 16 points
• Ben Gregg: 13 points

Meanwhile, Braden Huff (5 points) and Dusty Stromer (0 points) had off nights, but it didn’t matter. The depth and balance of this year’s team allowed them to dominate a top-20 opponent by 16 points.

Takeaway

It wasn’t a masterpiece, but it was a statement. After a tough loss to West Virginia, Gonzaga showed resilience, depth, and the ability to grind out a win—even when the game turned into a whistle-heavy mess. If this is what they look like when things don’t go smoothly, the Zags are in a great place moving forward.