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On a February night at the Chiles Center that will live in program lore, the University of Portland men’s basketball team delivered one of the most shocking results of the 2025–26 college season. The Pilots, heavy underdogs against sixth ranked Gonzaga, seized control early and never really let go, finishing off an 87–80 upset that snapped multiple long-running streaks and gave the program its first-ever win over a top-10 opponent.
The result was eye-opening even by college basketball’s upset standards. Gonzaga entered at 22–1 overall and 10–0 in West Coast Conference play, riding a 15-game winning streak and a 20-game run over Portland in the series. The Pilots, meanwhile, were just 11–14 overall and 4–8 in the WCC, coming off a 30-point loss at Washington State and projected as roughly a 22-point underdog by oddsmakers.
Instead of playing like a team with a losing record trying to hang around, Portland attacked from the opening tip. Freshman point guard Joel Foxwell controlled the game offensively and set the tone for what multiple outlets, including ESPN, have called the largest West Coast Conference upset in roughly three decades.
From the first possession, it was clear this was not going to be a typical Gonzaga rout. Portland’s game plan under head coach Shantay Legans focused on ball-screen usage, pace, and making the Bulldogs uncomfortable defensively.
Foxwell immediately put pressure on Gonzaga’s defense, using high ball screens to create space for mid-range jumpers and driving lanes. The Pilots raced out to a 15–5 advantage before the first media timeout, energizing the Chiles Center crowd and forcing the sixth ranked Bulldogs into catch-up mode much earlier than expected.
That start changed the emotional tone of the game. Instead of trying to hang on, the Pilots played as if they fully expected to win.
Gonzaga briefly steadied itself and reminded everyone why it arrived as a national title contender. Behind forward Graham Ike and reserve guard Mario Saint Supery, the Bulldogs chipped away and eventually nudged ahead 28–26 on a Saint Supery three late in the first half.
In past seasons, that might have been the cue for a Portland fade. This time, the Pilots responded with composure. They tightened their defense, executed in the half court, and closed the half with poise. A late layup from Garrett Nuckolls in the final minute sent Portland into the locker room with a 39–33 lead and a clear sense that the upset was within reach.
Any suspicion that Portland’s first-half performance was a fluke vanished shortly after the break. Junior forward Cameron Williams drained a three-pointer to stretch the margin to 50–43, and the Pilots continued to cut up Gonzaga’s usually reliable defense.
Portland mixed crisp half-court execution with opportunistic transition chances, punishing the Bulldogs whenever they were slow to match up. The ball movement and spacing consistently created driving lanes and open looks, and the Pilots’ confidence snowballed.
By the time the clock ticked under six minutes, Portland had built the lead to 75–60. In a building accustomed to watching Gonzaga take control late, it was the home team dictating everything from tempo to energy.
Gonzaga did not fold. As you’d expect from a team with national championship aspirations, the Bulldogs mounted one last rally behind Graham Ike. The veteran forward scored inside, got to the line, and helped cut the deficit to 84–80 in the final minute, with a late layup from Davis Fogle adding to the pressure.
But every time Gonzaga threatened to flip the script, Portland answered. After free throws on both sides, James O’Donnell delivered the defining moment of the night. Slipping behind the defense, he rose for a dunk with 23 seconds left that pushed the margin back to six. That play effectively sealed the 87–80 victory and sent the Chiles Center into full celebration.
While Portland’s win was a true team effort, this night will be remembered in large part as the national coming-out party for freshman point guard Joel Foxwell. The Australian guard has been quietly building a strong first season, but against Gonzaga he looked like one of the most dynamic young players in the West Coast Conference.
Foxwell finished with 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting from the field. He mixed in high-difficulty jumpers with sharp drives, reading Gonzaga’s pick-and-roll coverage and exploiting it repeatedly. Just as important, he matched his season high with eight assists and added four rebounds, showing full command of the Pilots’ offense.
According to the University of Portland’s own recap on PortlandPilots.com, much of Foxwell’s late output came while he was battling cramps. Playing through that discomfort to close out a top-10 opponent offered a clear glimpse of his competitiveness and leadership potential.
Foxwell entered the game already recognized as one of the league’s top newcomers. He had been named WCC Freshman of the Week five times and came in leading the conference in assists. This performance, though, elevated him from an exciting freshman to a potential long-term cornerstone for the Pilots.
For recruits and families watching, Foxwell’s role underscores an important reality of modern college basketball: talented freshmen can earn the keys early at the right program. At a school like the University of Portland, high-IQ guards who can run a team and score in ball screens are being given the chance to develop as primary decision-makers instead of waiting several seasons behind older players.
Portland’s win did not come solely from one hot hand. Four Pilots scored in double figures against one of the nation’s most respected defenses, and the supporting cast made critical plays in nearly every segment of the game.
Off the bench, James O’Donnell supplied 16 points and repeatedly attacked closeouts. He finished through contact at the rim and gave Portland a physical, aggressive scoring option when Gonzaga tried to push Foxwell off the ball. His late dunk with 23 seconds left will likely be replayed for years as the exclamation point on the upset.
Junior forward Cameron Williams added 14 points, including that early second-half three-pointer that stretched the lead to seven and kept momentum firmly on Portland’s side. His versatility as a scorer helped pull Gonzaga’s bigs away from the basket and opened up driving lanes.
Senior center Jermaine Ballisager Webb nearly posted a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. He also dished out five assists, a remarkable number for a center and a sign of how connected Portland’s offense was. The Pilots won the rebounding battle 32–27, and Ballisager Webb’s work on the glass helped limit Gonzaga to one shot on many crucial second-half possessions.
Even in defeat, Gonzaga flashed the talent that has made it a staple in national rankings. Graham Ike finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, and Mario Saint Supery provided 12 points off the bench, briefly sparking a second-half rally with his perimeter shooting.
But the Bulldogs never truly solved Portland’s offensive execution or defensive energy. The Pilots consistently disrupted Gonzaga’s rhythm, beating them down the floor in transition and forcing defensive breakdowns in pick-and-roll coverage. Portland shot close to 60 percent from the field, a rare mark against a Gonzaga program that usually prides itself on efficiency and toughness.
For context, Gonzaga has been one of the top analytical darlings in college basketball for much of the past decade. The Bulldogs regularly sit near the top of metrics like KenPom’s efficiency ratings and are a fixture in NCAA tournament projections. For a team sitting outside the top 200 nationally in advanced metrics, as Portland reportedly was entering this game, to handle Gonzaga for nearly 40 minutes underscores just how unusual this upset was.
Beyond the box score, the impact of this game on the University of Portland program is massive. The Pilots are a private Catholic university competing in NCAA Division I as a member of the West Coast Conference, but for much of their modern basketball history they have operated outside the national spotlight.
This 87–80 victory marked Portland’s first win ever against a team ranked in the top 10 of the Associated Press poll. That milestone gives the Pilots a signature result that instantly stands out on program timelines, media guides, and recruiting pitches.
Prior to this, the highlight win over Gonzaga came back on January 9, 2014, when Portland defeated a 22nd ranked Bulldogs team at the Chiles Center. The 2026 upset is bigger by every measure: higher-ranked opponent, bigger pregame spread, and far more significant in the context of Gonzaga’s dominance in the WCC.
Portland’s win snapped three major streaks at once:
The upset also sent a message to the rest of the West Coast Conference. For years, the league has largely been defined nationally by Gonzaga’s dominance and a rotating cast of challengers. This result reminded players and recruits that other programs in the WCC can create defining moments and turn their home arenas into hostile environments for ranked teams.
With the victory, Portland improved to 11–14 overall and 4–8 in league play, gaining a surge of momentum heading into the final stretch of the conference season and an upcoming home date with new WCC member Seattle University. More importantly, the game provided tangible proof of concept for Legans and his staff.
When coaches sit down with recruits and families in future cycles, they can now point to film of a sold-out Chiles Center, a top-10 opponent on the floor, and a Pilots team executing a game plan at a high level. For prospects who might be weighing larger brand names against a chance to play a central role at a rising program, this kind of win is invaluable.
For high school and club players considering the WCC or other mid-major leagues, Portland’s upset of Gonzaga is more than just an entertaining scoreline. It is a concrete example of why fit, opportunity, and development can sometimes matter more than chasing the biggest brand on your list.
Foxwell’s immediate impact shows how a freshman can become the face of a program when the fit is right. At many power-conference schools, a first-year point guard might spend most of the season playing limited minutes behind upperclassmen. At Portland, Foxwell has been empowered to run the team, learn through reps, and take over high-pressure games.
If you are a guard or wing who believes you can make plays with the ball in your hands, studying how Portland uses pick-and-rolls, spacing, and tempo can be instructive. At the right fit school, you are not just a role player; you are central to the game plan.
The Chiles Center atmosphere during this Gonzaga upset is another reminder that you do not need to be in a 20,000-seat arena to experience high-level college basketball energy. When a ranked team comes to town and the community rallies, a smaller gym can feel just as loud and just as intense.
As you research schools, pay attention to campus culture and home-court environment, not just logo size. Tools like the Pathley College Directory and the Basketball Pathley Hub can help you compare programs, dig into basic information, and save colleges that match your goals.
Every recruiting journey is different, but upsets like this show how quickly a program’s perception can change. The right school for you might be one coaching hire or one breakout recruiting class away from the national conversation.
If you are trying to sort through dozens of options, AI-based tools can make that research more manageable. With Pathley’s College Fit Snapshot, you can run a free analysis on a specific school and see how you match academically, athletically, and culturally. Combine that with the Compare Two Colleges tool, and you can quickly see side-by-side differences in academics, campus feel, and athletics for programs that interest you.
Portland’s victory over Gonzaga did not just change the WCC standings; it rippled out into national coverage. Outlets like NCAA.com highlighted the loss as one of several ranked upsets on a chaotic Wednesday, underscoring how volatile the 2025–26 season has become.
According to NCAA.com, Gonzaga’s loss joined a night of upsets that shook the top 25 and added drama to bracket projections. For a program like Portland that typically fights for regional attention, suddenly being part of that national storyline is a major step.
For recruits, parents, and coaches tracking the sport, this kind of result is a reminder that March-like chaos can start well before conference tournaments. It also highlights how a single game can become a reference point for a program’s trajectory for years to come.
On the academic and campus side, the University of Portland offers a traditional private university setting in a major West Coast city. As a Catholic institution with Division I athletics, it attracts students who want a blend of strong academics, values-driven community, and high-level sports.
For athletes considering Portland, this upset serves as a tangible signal that the basketball program is capable of putting players on big stages. When a top-10 team comes to your home arena and you send them home with a loss, that resonates with alumni, local fans, and national media. It can also lead to better scheduling, more televised games, and increased exposure for future rosters.
For recruits looking broadly at the Portland, Oregon region, there are multiple campuses worth learning about beyond the Pilots.
Using discovery tools like the Pathley College Directory and cross-checking with the Compare Two Colleges feature can help you see which of these schools might align with your academic interests, budget, and preferred campus feel.
Portland’s 87–80 upset of No. 6 Gonzaga is the type of result that fans will talk about for years, but it is also full of lessons for anyone navigating the recruiting process:
As you build your own recruiting roadmap, consider using AI support to streamline the research and communication side. Pathley’s tools, including the College Fit Snapshot and the broader Basketball Pathley Hub, can help you identify schools where you might thrive on and off the court.
Every season, there are teams like Portland that surprise the nation. What they all have in common are players who found the right environment, earned trust from the staff, and were ready when the moment arrived.
If you are serious about playing college basketball, spend time understanding programs beyond the biggest brands. Look for staffs committed to development, systems that match your game, and campuses where you can see yourself thriving day-to-day. Then use tools like Pathley to track your progress, organize your school list, and communicate clearly with coaches.
Portland’s win over Gonzaga shows that history-making moments are possible far from the blue-blood spotlight. The next breakthrough performance could come from a player and program that, right now, are still in the discovery phase. With a smart plan and the right information, you can put yourself in position to be part of that story.
