SPOKANE, Wash. — Top-ranked Gonzaga's quest to go undefeated this season ended under a barrage of baskets by BYU's Eric Mika on Saturday night.
Mika had 29 points and 11 rebounds, and BYU upset Gonzaga 79-71. It was the Cougars' first victory ever over a No. 1 team, after four losses, and spoiled the Bulldogs' perfect record in their last regular season game.
The sophomore center made 10 of 14 shots from the floor and 9 of 13 free throws. His biggest basket put BYU ahead 73-71 with a minute left in the game.
Gonzaga lost the ball on its next two possessions, and then Corbin Kaufusi had a putback and Mika hit two free throws to put the game out of reach.
Gonzaga ended a string of 15 consecutive games where it didn't trail in the second half.
They haven't had anyone have a lead on them in the second half in a long time, BYU coach Rose said. I thought that would be a really big emotional thing for us, and an emotional thing for them to have to respond.
"You beat the #1 team on the road the last weekend of the season, it's good for a lot of reasons", Rose added.
The Cougars rallied from an early 16-point deficit, and Mika said the team never wavered in its belief it could win.
The Cougars scored 44 points in the second half and made 9 three-pointers to just 3 by Gonzaga.
T.J. Haws added 17 points and Elijah Bryant 14 for BYU (21-10, 12-6.)
I might add...this game was the game where the Spokane newspaper had already printed that Gonzaga ended the season at 30 wins and no losses.
the above info is as per: