Gonzaga beats Purdue in opener

No. 15 Gonzaga defeated Purdue 78-72 on Monday night in Las Vegas. The win marks the first time the Bulldogs have beaten the Boilermakers in their season opener. Davis Fogle led Gonzaga with 22 points.

The free-throw line decided the game. Gonzaga players made 26 of their 34 attempts. Purdue players made only 15 of their 21 attempts. Xaivian Lee, a fifth-year transfer from Florida, scored 18 points in his debut for Gonzaga. Izan Almansa added 11 points, and Braden Huff finished with 10.

Daniel Jacobsen led Purdue with 22 points. He played through foul trouble. C.J. Cox scored 11 points, and Antione West Jr. added 10. Gene Keady, the program’s winningest coach, watched the game from the stands. Purdue had won the previous five meetings against Gonzaga, including three straight from 2022 to 2024.

Gonzaga held the lead for nearly 35 minutes. Jacobsen kept Purdue close for much of the night. The Boilermakers struggled to score when Jacobsen sat out due to fouls. Coach Matt Painter managed Jacobsen's minutes carefully. Once Gonzaga built a 67-56 lead with 5:50 remaining, Painter put Jacobsen back on the floor.

Purdue responded with a 10-1 run to close the gap to two points. Gonzaga held the lead for the final seconds. The Boilermakers started the game without a player from Indiana. That was the first time since February 11, 1982, when they played Ohio State.

Gonzaga will host New Mexico State on Saturday. Purdue will host Valparaiso on Friday.