Gonzaga was heavily favored.
They were the No. 1 team in the country playing their last home game of the season in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center on Senior Night. They were perfect and looking to finish the regular season undefeated at 30-0.
But it didn’t matter to BYU.
The Cougars made program history — beating the No. 1 team in the nation — Saturday night in a 79-71 win over the Zags. Eric Mika led the way with a game-high 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead BYU to the upset victory.
The upset sent shockwaves throughout the country and it was amplified after somebody leaked a photo on Twitter of the Spokesman-Review planning to run a sports cover that had the Zags finishing the season undefeated.
Here’s all the reaction from Saturday’s big game.
https://twitter.com/beanmace/status/835724983611555840
Zags Make History #BYU #BYUvsGonzaga pic.twitter.com/2Q7yfwwikc
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) February 26, 2017
How many losses does Gonzaga have? pic.twitter.com/8c1tjiUt2g
— SB Nation CBB (@SBNationCBB) February 26, 2017
Final Score: BYU 79, Gonzaga 71
BYU ends Gonzaga's perfect season. The gingerale will definitely be flowing in Utah tonight.
— NOTSportsCenter (@NOTSportsCenter) February 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/kingSCHARF/status/835697594642788354
BYU knocks off No. 1 Gonzaga! Cougars have four wins over Zags in last four seasons (4-7), the same as the rest of the WCC combined (4-66)
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) February 26, 2017
BYU had never beaten a No. 1 team before tonight, but it sure knows how to beat Gonzaga.
The Cougars have won in Spokane 3 straight times. pic.twitter.com/7DeE7u5i3i
— ESPN College BBall (@ESPNCBB) February 26, 2017
Huge Win Over The Number 1 Team In The Nation For My Boys @erc95 teejlp11 & @byucougars Congrats… https://t.co/aNUbd1muli
— INDIANA GEORGE HILL (@George_Hill3) February 26, 2017
Marriott Center- North… What a place to play.
— Chappy (@itschappy) February 26, 2017
THE KENNEL IS OUR HOUSE!!! 3 in a row!!! #byuhoops
— Nate Austin (@RexosaurusRex) February 26, 2017
Of course a football player comes through in the clutch!!
— David Nixon (@D_Nixon) February 26, 2017
Mika > Sabonis
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 26, 2017
Eric Mika had 29 pts, 11 rebs, 2 blks tonight. Imagine if he hadn't spent the last 2 years on a Mormon mission NOT touching a basketball.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) February 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/ThrillBarton/status/835719764773306368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
#BYU beats #Gonzaga on @jimmerfredette's birthday.
Coincidence???
I THINK NOT.#BYUSN
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) February 26, 2017
