Last night, the Gonzaga Bulldogs vomited (literally) their way to a 93-80 victory over the San Diego Toreros. They got some big performances from the likes of Ben Gregg and Khalif Battle, but in the box score is one of the most unique stat lines we’ve seen from a Gonzaga Bulldog. Graham Ike finished with an oddly historic night.
Now, of course, when we talk about historic nights, we think of things like 50 point games, or perfect 15-for-15 shooting, etc., etc. Ike’s box score line was not that. It was weird and unique, and that is what makes it historic.
15 points, 1-for-5 FG, 13-for-15 FT, 5 OR, 14 DR
It should be little surprise that Ike, who is No. 7 in the nation at fouls drawn per 40 minutes, made it to the line a lot. What is interesting is how he did so while ultimately not ending up with too many FGA.
In fact, per Stathead, since the 1938-39 season, only 246 players in college basketball have attempted five or fewer field goals and 15 or more free throws.
Two of Ike’s five field goal attempts were three-point tries. If you foul Ike on a three-point attempt you deserve to have your scholarship revoked. So narrowing it down even further, of the 246 players, Ike became the 118th to attempt three or fewer two-pointers and 15 or more free throws. He is just the second player to have done so this season, following Connor Amundsen of Dartmouth.
Ike grabbed his lunch pail and went to freaking work this game, however. So let’s narrow down that stat even more. Of those 117 players, only one other player has accomplished this feat while pulling down 15 or more boards–BYU uber man Brandon Davies against Colorado State on February 2011.
So there you have it. Only two college basketball players since the 1938-39 season have logged a game in which they attempted five or fewer field goal and three or fewer two-pointers, 15 or more free throws, and pulled down 15 or more total rebounds.
And of those two players, Davies and Ike, Ike wins. He had 19 boards to Davies 15.
So there you have it. History wasn’t necessarily made as the Zags took on a random WCC opponent, but for anyone out there who tends to tune out these lowly conference games, sometimes you do miss out.