MBB Meets Maryland on Day 2 of Players Era

Gonzaga returns to action Tuesday evening as it meets Maryland in the second matchup of the Players Era Championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Tipoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., with the Bulldogs holding a 3-1 all-time series lead. Following a strong performance against Alabama, Gonzaga looks to maintain its unbeaten start.

Gonzaga’s Momentum Heading Into Game 2

A High-Scoring Win Against Alabama

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Gonzaga enters the Maryland game fresh off a 95-85 victory over No. 12/10 Alabama.
Key performances included:

• Tyon Grant-Foster – 21 points
• Graham Ike – 21 points, 11 rebounds
• Braden Huff – 18 points

Five Bulldogs reached double figures. GU dominated the boards 48-36, including 20 offensive rebounds, which they turned into a 25-10 margin in second-chance points.

Top KenPom Rankings and Statistical Dominance

After the win over Southern Utah, the Bulldogs briefly moved to No. 1 in KenPom, and currently sit at No. 3, with both offense and defense ranked sixth nationally. Gonzaga is one of only three programs with Top-10 rankings on both ends of the court.

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The Bulldogs also lead the West Coast Conference in multiple categories:

• Scoring offense: 94.2 PPG (16th NCAA)
• Three-point defense: 25.0% (14th NCAA)
• Rebounds: 46.7 RPG (6th NCAA)
• Defensive rebounds: 32.8 per game (10th NCAA)
• Turnover margin: +5.8 (20th NCAA)
• Turnovers per game: 10.2

Graham Ike’s Career Milestones

Gonzaga forward Graham Ike surpassed the 2,000-point mark in the win over Creighton, finishing with 20 points after needing just nine to reach the milestone.
His career totals:

• 2,065 points (2nd among active NCAA Division I scorers)
• 952 rebounds (also 2nd among active players)

He remains the only active player with at least 1,500 points and 900 rebounds. Ike enters the season as a preseason All-American, appearing on the NABC, Wooden, and Naismith Player of the Year watch lists.

Unbeaten Start for the Bulldogs

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Gonzaga is 6-0 for the first time since 2021-22, and the program’s last 7-0 start came in the 2020-21 season when the team reached the national championship game at 31-0. GU has opened 6-0 five times in the last decade.

Scouting the Maryland Terrapins

Maryland’s Opening Win

Maryland began its tournament run with a 74-67 win over UNLV.
Key strengths included:

• Holding UNLV to 36% shooting
• Turning 16 offensive rebounds into an 18-5 second-chance scoring advantage
• A 46-34 rebounding edge

Terrapins’ Statistical Leaders

Top players for Maryland include:

• Pharrel Payne – 20 points vs UNLV; averages 18.6 PPG and 6.6 RPG
• Darius Adams – 15 points vs UNLV
• David Coit – 11 points and 17.2 PPG on the season

Maryland enters the year with a dramatically rebuilt roster—15 of 16 players are new, including five true freshmen. Only Lukas Sotell returns from last season’s Sweet Sixteen squad.

The Terrapins were ranked 13th out of 18 in the Big Ten Preseason Media Poll but boast transfers and veterans with high-level experience.
Notable additions include:

• Pharrel Payne and Myles Rice (experienced Big Ten starters)
• Elijah Saunders, who played for San Diego State during their 2022-23 national title run

Series History Between Gonzaga and Maryland

• The teams meet for the first time in 17 years.
• Their last game was in 2008, when Gonzaga won 81-59 in the Old Spice Classic semifinals.
• Maryland won the first meeting in the 1995 NCAA Tournament, beating GU 87-63.
• Gonzaga won the next three matchups:
  • 2003: 82-68 in Washington D.C.
  • 2005: 88-76 in the Maui Invitational
  • 2008: 81-59 in Orlando

What’s Next for the Bulldogs?

Gonzaga’s Day 3 opponent in the Players Era Championship depends on the results of Tuesday night’s games, including Alabama vs. UNLV at 9 p.m.

Tiebreakers for determining matchups include:

1. Overall record
2. Head-to-head
3. Point differential (max +/- 20 per game)
4. Total points scored
5. Fewest points allowed
6. AP Rankings (Nov. 24)

About the Players Era Championship

• The 2025 Players Era Championship in Las Vegas is the second edition of the event.
• Gonzaga is among 18 elite teams, with plans to expand to 32 teams in 2026.
• Games take place at MGM Grand Garden Arena and Michelob Ultra Arena.
• 13 teams in the field are ranked or receiving votes in the preseason AP Poll, including top programs such as Houston, St. John’s, Michigan, Alabama, Tennessee, Kansas, Auburn, Gonzaga, and Creighton.

Gonzaga’s Thanksgiving Tournament Success

Under head coach Mark Few, Gonzaga traditionally thrives in late-November events:

• 49-14 record in tournaments held during Thanksgiving week
• 38-8 in the last 10 such events
• Seven tournament championships
• Appearances in 11 of 18 title games held during this period

Last year at the Battle 4 Atlantis, GU lost in overtime to West Virginia before earning strong wins over Indiana and Davidson.

Gonzaga enters its second game of the Players Era Championship with confidence, strong momentum, and standout performances from key players like Graham Ike and Tyon Grant-Foster.

Maryland brings a new-look roster with depth and energy, setting up a competitive showdown in Las Vegas.

With statistical dominance and a perfect start, the Bulldogs aim to continue their impressive early-season run.