Pilot History: Portland Stuns No. 6 Gonzaga for Program’s First Top-10 Win

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In a game that will be etched into West Coast Conference lore, the Portland Pilots pulled off a historic 87–80 upset over No. 6 Gonzaga on Wednesday night, February 4, 2026. The victory at the Chiles Center didn’t just snap the Bulldogs’ 15-game winning streak; it marked Portland’s first-ever win over a Top-10 opponent in program history.

Before the game, Portland was a 21.5-point underdog. By the end, the court was a sea of purple as students mobbed a Pilots squad that led for nearly 39 minutes of the contest.

The Foxwell Phenomenon

Freshman sensation Joel Foxwell proved why he is the frontrunner for WCC Freshman of the Year. Despite battling severe cramps in the final four minutes, Foxwell was the engine behind the Pilots’ offense.

The Stat Line: 27 points, 8 assists, and 4 rebounds.
The Early Spark: Foxwell personally outscored Gonzaga for the first six minutes of the game, fueling an early 15–5 run that put the Zags on their heels.
The Dagger: After Gonzaga cut a 15-point lead down to single digits late in the second half, Foxwell hit two massive three-pointers to keep the Bulldogs at bay.

Outworking the Zags: By the Numbers

Portland’s victory wasn’t a fluke of hot shooting—though their 59.3% field goal percentage certainly helped. They beat the Zags at their own game: physicality and interior presence.

Category	Portland Pilots	#6 Gonzaga
Field Goal %	59.3%	40.0%
Points in Paint	40	26
Rebounds	32	27
Assists	22	19

James O’Donnell (16 points) provided the punctuation mark with a breakaway transition dunk with 23 seconds left to seal the result, while Jermaine Ballisager Webb anchored the defense with 13 points and 9 rebounds.

Gonzaga’s Rare Defensive Lapse

For a Gonzaga team that had held five straight conference opponents under 70 points, this was a night to forget. Head coach Mark Few called it their “poorest effort of the season” on the defensive end.

The Bright Spot: Graham Ike was a force in his second game back from an ankle injury, putting up 24 points and 10 rebounds.
The Struggle: Aside from Ike, the Zags struggled to find a consistent rhythm. Starters Mario Saint-Supery (12 points) and Davis Fogle (10 points) reached double figures, but the team’s uncharacteristic 40% shooting from the floor allowed Portland to maintain control.

The Atmosphere

The Chiles Center was at maximum capacity, and the “Upset Alert” notifications began hitting phones nationwide midway through the second half. Portland coach Shantay Legans, remarkably coaching from a knee scooter after tearing his Achilles while helping the scout team earlier in the week, watched his team end a 20-game losing streak against the Bulldogs dating back to 2014.

Looking Ahead

Gonzaga (22–2, 10–1 WCC): Will look to rebound this Saturday, Feb. 7, when they visit Oregon State—a future Pac-12 rival.
Portland (11–14, 4–8 WCC): The Pilots will try to keep the magic alive at home on Saturday against Seattle U.