Gonzaga Suffers Shocking Loss to Portland: Worst Defeat in Mark Few Era

Notice unexpected losses in college basketball, and then there’s what happened to the Gonzaga Bulldogs on Wednesday night in Portland. Gonzaga went into the Chiles Center for the final time as members of the West Coast Conference and left with what might just be the most surprising loss of the entire college basketball season – and the worst loss of coach Mark Few’s career in Spokane.

The Zags rode a 15-game winning streak into Wednesday’s tilt, the fourth longest in college basketball, having not lost since the 40-point debacle at the hands of Michigan in the Players Era Championship on Nov. 26. There had been close calls, like the two-point win over San Francisco back on Jan. 24 and the overtime win over Seattle on Jan. 2, but nothing could have prepared them for a loss to a team like the Portland Pilots.

In 49 previous meetings against Portland, coach Mark Few had a 47-2 overall record. He first lost to UP back on Feb. 19, 2003, by a score of 72-68. The Zags rattled off 20 straight over the Pilots before losing again on Jan. 9, 2014, by a score of 82-73. The cycle repeated itself in 2026, with Gonzaga winning 20 straight over Portland before falling on Wednesday. This year’s loss was the least expected.

Portland defeated No. 6 Gonzaga 87-80 on Wednesday, ending the Pilots’ 30-game losing streak against Associated Press top-10 teams. It was Gonzaga’s first loss against Portland in 12 years and just their second loss of the season. The Bulldogs (22-2, 10-1) looked listless from the opening tip, going down 15-5 early and never fully recovering.

Joel Foxwell was the star for Portland, scoring 27 points and adding eight assists, continuing what is reportedly a strong WCC Freshman of the Year campaign. He scored 13 points in the first half on 5-6 shooting, then found his outside shot in the final 20 minutes. Portland led 39-33 at halftime after a 14-7 run.

Gonzaga briefly took a 26-25 lead after a three-pointer from Mario Saint-Supery, but Portland responded. The Pilots shot 59% from the field and 44% from three-point range, consistently countering Gonzaga’s momentum with open shots, and-1s, and even a four-point play from Cameron Williams early in the second half.

The win came days after Portland coach Shantay Legans tore his Achilles tendon while practicing with his team to prepare for a two-game trip after injuries and illnesses left the Pilots short-handed. Legans was navigating the sideline with the help of a knee caddy.

Gonzaga will need to quickly address their defensive struggles, as they have a road game against Oregon State on Saturday in Corvallis, where they lost in overtime last year.

This victory was historically significant for Portland, marking their first-ever win over an AP Top 10 team and arguably the biggest regular-season victory in school history. If this truly is the last time Gonzaga plays at the Chiles Center, it was a memorable occasion for the Pilots.