Portland Stuns No. 6 Gonzaga 87-80 in Historic West Coast Conference Upset
Spokane, Washington, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs head coach Mark Few reacts Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images
The college basketball world was turned upside down Wednesday night at the Chiles Center, where Portland pulled off what may be the upset of the 2025-2026 season. The Pilots stunned No. 6 Gonzaga 87-80, ending the Bulldogs’ 15-game winning streak in a performance that defied all expectations and odds.
Portland entered the game as 21.5-point underdogs, having never beaten an AP Top 10 team in program history. The Pilots held a dismal 3-47 record against Gonzaga since 2000, with their last victory over the Bulldogs coming 12 years ago. Yet none of that mattered on this magical night in the Rose City.
Joel Foxwell’s Masterpiece Performance
Australian freshman Joel Foxwell was the catalyst for Portland’s historic victory, delivering a game-high 27 points on 11-for-18 shooting while adding eight assists and four rebounds in 39 minutes. The 6’1″ guard from Melbourne carved up Gonzaga’s defense with his creativity and playmaking ability, particularly in pick-and-roll situations.
« Hard to imagine much better point guard play than what Joel Foxwell did tonight for Portland. Completely dominated in ball screens with his creativity, playmaking and tough shotmaking, » noted national media coverage of his performance. Foxwell tied his career-high for the third time this season, showcasing why he’s considered the West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year frontrunner.
Big man moves from O’Donnell 🦾
📺: https://t.co/NK2SLDIVwK
📊: https://t.co/yGvwZ5rmbP
🌏: https://t.co/oR7fFpPq1L#gopilots pic.twitter.com/LoJE3MnRTI— Portland Pilots Men's Basketball (@PortlandMBB) February 5, 2026
The game took on added drama with Portland coach Shantay Legans navigating the sideline on a knee scooter after tearing his Achilles during practice earlier in the week. Legans had been participating in team practices due to injuries and illnesses that left his roster severely depleted.
« I’ll take an Achilles’ for a couple wins, » Legans said after the victory, referencing his injury. The 44-year-old coach had torn his other Achilles seven years ago and joked about the circumstances: « I shouldn’t be out there. I tore my other one seven years ago playing one-on-one with one of our players. This one was worse, though. But it’s OK. It worked out. »
Gonzaga never recovered from a sluggish start, falling behind 15-5 early and managing only a brief 26-25 lead at the 6:55 mark of the first half that lasted just 32 seconds. The Bulldogs shot well from beyond the arc, making 10-of-30 3-pointers, but were outrebounded 32-27 and outscored 40-26 in the paint despite entering the game leading the nation in paint scoring at 47.1 points per game.
Underdog’s on top.#gopilots pic.twitter.com/KU3j6SXyfz
— Portland Pilots Men's Basketball (@PortlandMBB) February 6, 2026
« They beat us in all facets, » Mark Few said after the game. « They just outplayed us, out-executed us, outshot us. When they got open shots, they made them and we didn’t. »
The loss drops Gonzaga to 22-2 overall and 10-1 in WCC play, marking their first defeat since November 26 against Michigan. For Portland (11-14, 4-8 WCC), the victory snapped a three-game losing streak and represents the biggest WCC upset in the last 30 seasons according to ESPN Research. The Bulldogs will look to bounce back Saturday against Oregon State, while this stunning result will likely cost them multiple seed lines heading into March Madness.
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