SPOKANE, Wash. (Interstat) — In a season-opening display of overwhelming force, the Gonzaga Bulldogs dismantled the visiting Texas Southern Tigers in a men’s NCAA Division I basketball game Monday night, cruising to a 98-43 victory before a crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The contest, which was never in doubt, saw the Bulldogs execute with ruthless efficiency at both ends of the floor, turning a projected blowout into a reality. Interstat’s ELO system had given Gonzaga a 99.60 percent probability to win, and the Bulldogs lived up to that billing from the opening tip.

Gonzaga’s dominance was rooted in a stark contrast in offensive execution. The Bulldogs scored 98 points on 75 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 130.7, a mark of elite offensive production. Texas Southern, conversely, managed just 43 points on 74 possessions, an offensive rating of 58.0 that underscored a night of profound offensive struggle.

The first half set the tone for the evening. Gonzaga’s offense was fluid and potent, racking up 46 points while its defense smothered the Tigers. Texas Southern shot a paltry 15 of 59 from the floor for the game, a 25.4 percent success rate, and were even colder from beyond the arc, connecting on only 3 of 21 three-point attempts. The Tigers also committed 16 turnovers, which the opportunistic Bulldogs converted into easy transition opportunities.

Gonzaga’s shooting was a model of efficiency. The team made 37 of its 69 field goal attempts, a 53.6 percent clip, and supplemented that with a 7-for-22 performance from three-point range. The Bulldogs were also relentless on the glass, hauling in 17 offensive rebounds that led to numerous second-chance points and extended possessions, further demoralizing the Texas Southern defense.

The second half offered no respite for the Tigers. Gonzaga intensified its attack, pouring in 52 points after the break while holding Texas Southern to just 16. The Bulldogs’ depth and talent were on full display as they continued to execute their game plan with precision, finishing the night with 17 free throws made on 21 attempts.

Individual performances highlighted the balanced and powerful nature of the Gonzaga roster. Graham Ike, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound forward from Aurora, Colorado, delivered a commanding double-double in just 22 minutes of action, scoring 13 points and securing 11 rebounds while also dishing out four assists.

Tyon Grant-Foster, a 6-foot-7 guard from Kansas City, Kansas, provided a significant scoring punch off the bench, leading all scorers with 15 points and adding five rebounds in 19 minutes. Braden Huff, a 6-foot-10 forward from Glen Ellyn, Illinois, was also highly effective in his 19 minutes, contributing 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and a block.

The backcourt was equally productive. Adam Miller, a 6-foot-3 guard from Peoria, Illinois, scored 13 points, while Jalen Warley, a 6-foot-7 guard from Philadelphia, filled the stat sheet with eight points, four rebounds and three assists. The Bulldogs’ distribution was a collective effort, with Braeden Smith of Seattle handing out four assists and Davis Fogle, a hometown product from Anacortes, Washington, providing a spark with 11 points and five rebounds in just 10 minutes of play.

Defensively, Gonzaga’s presence was felt at the rim. Ismaila Diagne, a 7-foot center from Senegal, blocked three shots and grabbed six rebounds in his 10 minutes on the court, emblematic of the team’s overall defensive intensity which resulted in nine steals and four blocks as a unit.

For Texas Southern, the night was a difficult start to the season. Duane Posey led the Tigers with eight points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of play. The team’s inability to generate consistent offense, evidenced by their six total assists, proved insurmountable against a Gonzaga squad operating at peak performance.

With the victory, Gonzaga begins its season with a record of 1-0. The Bulldogs now look ahead to a challenging and immediate test, hosting the Oklahoma Sooners this Saturday, Nov. 8, at the McCarthey Athletic Center. This will be followed by a home game against Creighton on Nov. 11 and a road contest at Arizona State on Nov. 14.

Texas Southern falls to 0-1 and will have a nearly two-week break to regroup before embarking on a tough road stretch. The Tigers’ next game is at Texas State on Saturday, Nov. 15, followed by a road game at Vanderbilt on Thursday, Nov. 20. Their first home game of the season is not until Wednesday, Nov. 26, against Biblical Studies.