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# Graham Ike Cracks 2,000 Points, Gonzaga Crushes Creighton 90-63 Behind Second Half Surge
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/gonzaga-bulldogs-second-half-surge-creighton-graham-ike-milestone/
- Published: 2025-11-12T08:35:25.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T05:54:45.000Z
- Author: Corbin Smith
- Tags: Analysis, Gonzaga, Graham Ike, Mark Few, Mario Saint-Supéry, Jalen Warley, Braeden Smith, Braden Huff

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="3071"\]

![  Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15) celebrates a three-pointer against the Creighton Bluejays in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_27566093-format-original.jpg)

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Graham Ike (15) celebrates a three-pointer against the Creighton Bluejays in the first half at McCarthey Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images \[/caption\]

In garbage time between No.19 Gonzaga men’s basketball (3-0) and No. 23 Creighton (1-1), Mario Saint-Supéry streaked into the passing lane off a down screen to take the ball away as time expired. The final sequence was a microcosm of how the game between the Zags and Bluejays unfolded, as Gonzaga suffocated its opponent defensively in the last 20 minutes en route to a statement 90-63 win at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The contest between the two ranked squads started off competitively, especially offensively. With little stoppage or mistakes with the ball by either side, the first media timeout didn’t occur until almost eight minutes into the action, where the score was 20-19 in GU’s favor.

During this hot offensive stretch, Zags’ standout fifth-year forward Graham Ike hit a milestone. He drilled three shots from beyond the arc, all attempts being above the break and fairly open. The latter of the three pushed Ike over 2,000 points in his collegiate career, as it set the table for his third consecutive double-double of the season, a 20-point, 10-rebound night on 8-of-10 shooting. 

“It feels great, man,” Ike said on the achievement. “It’s been a long time coming. I’m grateful that I can play on such great teams with great people that can give me the ball. I wouldn’t be here without them. So I appreciate all of ‘em.”

Ike wound up making all four of his shots from deep, when his previous game-high was two. Even on just 33 attempts last year, the 6-10 big man shot 39.4% from long range. He practices those shots, and if teams keep leaving him space, Ike might continue to burn them. His head coach had high praise for him after the win.

“He’s amazing how he can just, time and time again, deliver and deliver and deliver, and a lot of them aren’t easy shots,” Few said of his star player. “We’ve had some guys score a lot of points over the years that had a lot of easy ones. Graham didn’t get a lot of easy ones. I mean, they’re usually over a hand, or somebody walking under him, or in traffic, or all that. And then he’s also got that knack. He gets big shots at big times in games…that puts him in kind of an elite club.”

Creighton was doing a solid job of keeping up with the Zags in the early going, though, moving the ball and setting good screens to create favorable looks. They were also much more aggressive driving to the cup and were rewarded with 16 free throws to GU’s four in the first half.

But after the first break in the period, the ball began to find the bottom of the net a lot less. For the Bulldogs, it was once again Jalen Warley and Tyon Grant-Foster to spearhead the tightening up of the defensive unit. Grant-Foster blocked a corner three on a closeout before rotating back out to the perimeter, forcing an errant throw and a backcourt violation. Later, when a Bluejay drove to the basket, Warley swiped at the ball as the help defender, leading to a kick ball violation when it hit the floor. He was a menace all night, stuffing the stat sheet with nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists and steals apiece.

Creighton head coach Greg McDermott recruited Warley out of high school, and once again when the 6-7 guard went into the portal out of Florida State. He isn’t surprised at all by Warley’s impact.

“Jalen Warley really changes this team,” McDermott said. “…I've always loved the way he played. I think he's a winner. And, you know, he doesn't shoot the ball great, but he impacts the game in so many ways.”

The energy of Warley and Grant-Foster induced a shot clock violation, a five-second violation on an inbound, and a Creighton scoring drought that lasted for four and a half minutes. Gonzaga rode this momentum into the second half, where it was maintained for the rest of the game. 

In the final 20 minutes, the Bluejays could only muster seven made field goals as they turned the ball over 12 times. They were limited to a 28% shooting half from the field. The second half also included a 19-0 GU run over the span of six minutes, where Creighton committed turnover after turnover while Gonzaga got whatever it wanted on the other end. Overall, the Bluejays were outscored 46-25 in the period. It was a “nightmare,” in McDermott’s words.

After the game, the Zags moved up to the No. 2 spot in the country on KenPom with a 29.10 NET rating. They also boast a defensive rating of 92.5, good for fifth in college basketball, while also having the ninth-best offense (121.6 rating). The depth, well-roundedness, and versatility of the team is really starting to show.

Saint-Supéry showed his promise during the outrageous run, as he blocked a three before converting an and-one on the ensuing play. The true freshman finished with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting with four assists, three assists, three steals, and a block. His teammate and fellow point guard, Braeden Smith, was also impactful, specifically early on. Smith had six points and a game-leading five assists as he attacked drop coverage off pick-and-rolls with fading mid-range jumpers while dishing out dimes. Both players were stout defensively as well, making this the two ball-handlers’ best collective game.

“It’s pretty cool when you get Braeden starting the game, and he’s a great leader, runs the offense super well, and then there’s no letup when Mario comes in,” Braden Huff said. “…They’re gonna be big for us all season.”

Huff hadn’t necessarily been himself for the last game and a half heading into the last 20 minutes of the victory. He logged 13 points against Oklahoma Saturday, but on an inefficient 6-of-17 from the field as he struggled with touch on his lefty hook. To start this game, Huff was 3-for-7, but closed on a strong note of 7-for-12 to get to 14 points.

Adam Miller has been another player who hasn’t been exactly as advertised to start the year, but he has been prevalent in other areas. He’s shot a pedestrian 5-of-15 from three so far – which drops to 2-of-9 in the last two games – but he’s been active defensively, and against Creighton, Miller got to his spots near the hoop with several floaters and close runners to tally 11 points in the win.

He will have a homecoming this Friday, November 14, as the Zags will travel to Tempe to play against Arizona State, where Miller played for the previous two seasons.

“I think it’s only one guy back, or maybe another and a walk-on, and basically the whole coaching staff, that’s like family,” Miller said. “I graduated from there, so I’m happy for that. Just happy for the opportunity to play and you know, see old faces and just do what I love to do, so just ready to go in there and play some basketball.”