Gonzaga Leads Purdue 36-33 at Halftime

Gonzaga built its first-half lead in Las Vegas behind hot three-point shooting in the season opener against Purdue.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Basketball

Expressive sports illustration of a navy-and-white basketball player releasing a three-point shot as a gold-and-black defender reaches in under bright arena lights. — Gonzaga led Purdue 36-33 at halftime Tuesday in Las Vegas, with Davis Fogle scoring 11 points and the Bulldogs hitting 5 of 9 three-pointers. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Gonzaga holds a 36-33 halftime lead over Purdue at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Bulldogs shot 5-9 from three-point range in the first half to stay in front.

Why it matters

The early lead gives Gonzaga a positive start to its college basketball season against a Purdue program. Outside shooting has been the key factor in the first half, and the second half will test whether that efficiency holds.

Gonzaga shot 5-9 (56%) from three-point range in the first half, well above its 6-28 (21.4%) mark against Arkansas and 9-27 (33.3%) against Lewis-Clark State. Davis Fogle led the Bulldogs with 11 first-half points in 16 minutes, but the second-half result remains unknown.

The players

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The Gonzaga men's basketball program is a West Coast Conference powerhouse based in Spokane, Washington, known for consistent NCAA Tournament appearances.

Purdue Boilermakers

The Purdue men's basketball program is a Big Ten Conference team based in West Lafayette, Indiana, that has won multiple conference championships.

The details

Davis Fogle led Gonzaga with 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals, shooting 4-7 on two-pointers and 1-3 from deep. Massamba Diop made the game's first three-pointer and scored five points, while Xaivian Lee made 2-2 three-point attempts late in the half.

• November 3, 2026: Gonzaga and Purdue meet in the first game of Gonzaga's college basketball season at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Season Trajectory

Gonzaga's early-season perimeter efficiency fits a long pattern of teams from Spokane opening strong against high-major opponents. A hot start against Purdue could influence how the Bulldogs are viewed heading into the non-conference slate.

Fantasy managers tracking Fogle and Diop should watch second-half minutes, since Diop's two fouls could shift his role. Gonzaga's perimeter efficiency is the main factor to monitor for betting and roster decisions.

The takeaway

Early-season games often hinge on shooting streaks, and Gonzaga's 5-9 first-half mark shows how quickly a hot stretch can build a lead. Following the second half will reveal whether that shooting holds up against Purdue's defense.