FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Gonzaga had a chance to make an early statement against one of the top teams in the country, but a prolonged offensive drought proved costly.
The No. 15 Bulldogs fell 76-72 to No. 12 Arkansas on Saturday at Bud Walton Arena, surrendering a double-digit lead in an exhibition matchup that exposed some areas for improvement ahead of the regular season.
Gonzaga played without sophomore standout Davis Fogle, who sat out with a left leg injury. Even with Fogle sidelined, the Bulldogs held their own for much of the first half before Arkansas found its rhythm and took control.
The Zags built their largest lead at 36-26 late in the opening half, but the Razorbacks answered with an 18-0 run that carried across halftime. Arkansas turned a 10-point deficit into an 11-point advantage, taking a 50-39 lead with 14:21 remaining.
Gonzaga struggled to generate consistent offense during that stretch, while Arkansas capitalized on defensive pressure and second-chance opportunities.
“We had really bad offense,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said afterward, pointing to Arkansas’ defense as a major factor in the Bulldogs’ struggles.
The Zags never completely went away, though, and made a push to get back into the game late.
Braden Huff led Gonzaga with 19 points and 11 rebounds, providing a steady presence inside. Izan Almansa added 14 points and six rebounds in his first action since being cleared for eligibility by the NCAA.
Xaivian Lee also delivered a key moment late, knocking down a transition 3-pointer to cut Arkansas’ lead to 68-66. But the Razorbacks responded, with freshman Davion Thompson hitting a clutch 3-pointer to restore some breathing room in the closing minutes.
Gonzaga finished just 6 of 28 from beyond the arc, a 21.4% shooting mark. The Bulldogs missed their first 11 attempts from deep before finally connecting late in the first half.
The perimeter struggles made it difficult for Gonzaga to sustain its offense when Arkansas tightened up defensively. The Bulldogs also battled foul trouble, with four players finishing with four fouls apiece.
Arkansas went 17 of 30 from the free-throw line and was led by Billy Richmond III, who scored 17 points. Thompson added 12, while Miikka Muurinen and JJ Andrews each finished with 10.
Despite the loss, Gonzaga showed it could compete with a ranked opponent on the road. The Bulldogs outrebounded Arkansas 52-47 and held a 36-22 advantage in points in the paint, but their shooting struggles ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Fogle’s absence was a notable factor. Arkansas head coach John Calipari said after the game that Gonzaga would have been a different team with the sophomore on the floor, highlighting the offensive dimension he could provide.
For Few and the Bulldogs, the exhibition offered an early opportunity to identify what needs to improve before the games begin to count.
“That’s what these games are great for,” Few said, describing the matchup as a valuable experience for his team.
Gonzaga will have another exhibition opportunity Wednesday when it hosts Lewis-Clark State before opening the regular season against Purdue in Las Vegas on Nov. 2.
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