Senior forward Kyle Wiltjer shot Gonzaga into an early lead and Bulldogs’ guards helped make sure it held up.
The 13th-ranked Zags led by as many as 15 points in each half and endured a late Washington State comeback en route to a 69-60 road victory Wednesday at Beasley Coliseum.
Gonzaga (5-1), playing without center Przemek Karnowski (back), won its fifth straight over the Cougars (4-1). This was the 150th meeting between the regional rivals but there are no plans currently to continue the series.
Wiltjer, known for scoring in bunches, was unstoppable early, hitting four 3-pointers and reaching 20 points with the contest barely 10 minutes old.