Julia Roberts thought Notting Hill sounded 'so f---ing stupid': 'The dumbest idea of any movie I ...

&34;I'm going to play the world's biggest movie star and I do what?&34; the &34;Pretty Woman&34; actress recalled thinking. Julia Roberts thought Notting Hill sounded 'so fing stupid': 'The dumbest idea of any movie I could ever do' &34;I'm going to play the world's biggest movie star and I do what?&34; the &34;Pretty Woman&34; actress recalled thinking. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines January 6, 2026 2:04 p.m.

"I'm going to play the world's biggest movie star and I do what?" the "Pretty Woman" actress recalled thinking.

Julia Roberts thought Notting Hill sounded 'so f---ing stupid': 'The dumbest idea of any movie I could ever do'

"I'm going to play the world's biggest movie star and I do what?" the "Pretty Woman" actress recalled thinking.

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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January 6, 2026 2:04 p.m. ET

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Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill'. Credit:

MCA/Courtesy Everett

- Julia Roberts said that she initially thought *Notting Hill* sounded like "the dumbest idea of any movie I could ever do."

- The *Pretty Woman* actress had reservations about playing "the world's biggest movie star" in the 1999 rom-com: "This sounds so f---ing stupid."

- However, Roberts changed her mind upon reading the screenplay for the film: "This is so charming. It's so funny."

Julia Roberts wasn't impressed by the idea of *Notting Hill*.

The *After the Hunt* star revealed her initial skepticism about the iconic 1999 romantic comedy during an interview with Deadline.

"Gosh, I just remember when my agent called me about* Notting Hill* and I thought, 'Well, that sounds like the dumbest idea of any movie I could ever do,'" Roberts remembered.

The film saw Roberts portray an A-list Hollywood star who falls in love with a shopkeeper (Hugh Grant) as she tries to lay low in London. The *Pretty Woman* actress was not particularly enthused by that premise. "'I'm going to play the world's biggest movie star and I do what?'" she recalled thinking. "'And then what happens? This sounds so f---ing stupid.'"

Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill'.

Clive Coote/Universal

However, upon reading Richard Curtis' screenplay, Roberts changed her tune. "And then I read the script, and I was like, 'Oh. This is so charming. It's so funny. Oh, s---,'" she remembered. "And then I went to lunch with Richard [Curtis] and [producer] Duncan [Kenworthy] and beloved [director] Roger Michell, may he rest in peace."

Despite being charmed by the script, Roberts said that she initially took that lunch meeting to tell the filmmakers that she intended to pass on the film. "And they were just so charming and sweet and fun," she said. "And I thought, 'Wow, this is really going to happen.'"

Roberts remembers the *Notting Hill *experience with fondness. "We had a beautiful time doing it. It was cast to perfection [by Mary Selway], all the friends, everybody," she said. "It was so great. And we had a beautiful time. And I think Roger, he just created the film in a way that it just, at every turn, it succeeded. It accomplished its goals."

Why Julia Roberts was excited to play an 'icy' character in 'After the Hunt' — and why Ayo Edebiri finds hers 'curious'

Why Julia Roberts' daughter gave up her smartphone after watching 'Stand by Me'

The *My Best Friend's Wedding* actress previously said that she had reservations about portraying a fictional actress during a conversation with Curtis for *British Vogue* in 2024.

"Honestly, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do was your movie playing a movie actress," she said. "I was so uncomfortable! I mean, we've talked about this so many times, but I almost didn't take the part because it just seemed — oh, it just seemed so awkward. I didn't even know how to play that person."

Julia Roberts in Los Angeles on Oct. 4, 2025.

JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Roberts also reflected on her approach to acting in comedy films like *Notting Hill* in her conversation with Deadline. There is a math, but I think it changes depending on the kind of comedy that it is," she said, noting advice she received from the director of *Pretty Woman *and *Runaway Bride*. "Garry Marshall would always say that a joke is in three parts, like a drum beat. I mean, people have their different ways of looking at it."

She continued, "For me, I think it would just depend on what the goal is. But I mean, the joy of life is making people laugh for me. Especially my husband, if I can make my husband really laugh — because he makes me really laugh — then it just fills me up."**

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Elle Fanning says Colin Firth rushed to help after she fainted because her dress was too tight: '...

&34;My sister was sitting at another table, and she saw my chair just completely fall back,&34; the actress said. Elle Fanning says Colin Firth rushed to help after she fainted because her dress was too tight: 'Very dramatic' &34;My sister was sitting at another table, and she saw my chair just completely fall back,&34; the actress said. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines January 6, 2026 4:21 p.m.

"My sister was sitting at another table, and she saw my chair just completely fall back," the actress said.

Elle Fanning says Colin Firth rushed to help after she fainted because her dress was too tight: 'Very dramatic'

"My sister was sitting at another table, and she saw my chair just completely fall back," the actress said.

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Elle Fanning in Santa Monica, Calif., on Jan. 4, 2026; Colin Firth in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Dec. 1, 2022. Credit:

Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty

- Elle Fanning fainted at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival because her "dress was too tight."

- The *Sentimental Value* star said that her sister, Dakota Fanning, witnessed the entire incident from across the room.

- Fanning also said that Colin Firth "rushed" to her side: "It was the talk of the festival."

Elle Fanning is reflecting on an unusual wardrobe malfunction.

The *Sentimental Value* actress remembered fainting at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival during a new interview with *W*, noting that her outfit was to blame for her loss of consciousness.

"My dress was too tight," she said, noting that her sister Dakota Fanning, who was at the festival promoting *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood*, witnessed the entire incident play out from across the room. "My sister was sitting at another table, and she saw my chair just completely fall back. It's kind of hilarious — very dramatic."

Fanning received a helping hand from a nearby Oscar winner. "Colin Firth was there, and he rushed to my side," she said. "It was the talk of the festival."

Colin Firth in London on Dec. 10, 2024.

Dave Benett/Getty

The *20th Century Women* star noted that the Cannes incident was not the first time she had passed out. "I'm known to faint," she said. "In school, I would faint a lot. I grew, like, seven inches in one year, and I guess my body was growing so much that I got altitude sickness."

Fanning previously acknowledged her Cannes fainting spell on social media. "Oops, had a fainting spell tonight in my 1950's Prada prom dress but it's all good!!" she shared on Instagram the night of the incident, alongside the hashtags "#dresstootight" and "#timeofthemonth."

Despite the side effects of the dress, Fanning maintained that she has no fashion regrets. "I don't live with regrets," she told *W*. "That's just not my style, but I did try bangs once. Faux bangs that you clip in. Being a blonde, it's hard to match the color of my hair, and it just looked like a big toupee was on the top of my head. I won't be doing that again."

Jack Black has priceless reaction to Elle Fanning calling him the 'hottest man' she's ever seen

Elle Fanning freaked out 'Predator: Badlands' costar with this unique talent: 'Did she just break her arms?'

The *We Bought a Zoo* actress also said that she experienced good luck at Cannes that balanced out the bad. "There was one party in Cannes that was basically my prom night," she said. "I was dancing barefoot, and there was broken glass everywhere. My manager loves to say she couldn't believe her eyes, because I was maneuvering around the glass barefoot on the dance floor. I didn't get one cut."

Elle Fanning in Palm Springs, Calif., on Jan. 3, 2026.

Lisa O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty

But Fanning has still experienced her fair share of awkward moments while donning a glitzy gown. "I made a fool of myself," she said of one particular encounter. "I was at the Met Ball a couple of years ago. I saw Cardi B, and I was just like, Wow. I got up, but I had huge shoes on, so I toppled over and fell. Cardi B saw this giant woman in her periphery just go down. She looked over and said, 'Are you okay?'"

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Fanning can currently be seen in *Sentimental Value* and *Predator: Badlands*. Both films are now playing in theaters.

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The Oscarwinning actress said that Miss Piggy &34;would be storming out right now at the mere suggestion&34; that anyone else play her onscreen. Emma Stone scoffs at suggestion she's playing Miss Piggy: 'Are you out of your mind?' The Oscarwinning actress said that Miss Piggy &34;would be storming out right now at the mere suggestion&34; that anyone else play her onscreen. By Emlyn Travis :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/EmlynTravisauthorphotocba6765b433b4f93b9398d18053153b1.jpg) Emlyn Travis is a news writer at . She has been working at EW since 2022.

The Oscar-winning actress said that Miss Piggy "would be storming out right now at the mere suggestion" that anyone else play her onscreen.

Emma Stone scoffs at suggestion she's playing Miss Piggy: 'Are you out of your mind?'

The Oscar-winning actress said that Miss Piggy "would be storming out right now at the mere suggestion" that anyone else play her onscreen.

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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January 6, 2026 3:32 p.m. ET

Emma Stone; Miss Piggy. Credit:

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Chris Jackson/Getty

Emma Stone knows that Miss Piggy is in a *pig*-agree all her own. **

The *Bugonia* star, 37, immediately shut down the suggestion that she will be playing Miss Piggy in her and Jennifer Lawrence's upcoming film. **

"First of all, that is the biggest insult to Miss Piggy that I've ever heard and I will not have her name dragged through the mud like that," Stone told* W Magazine*. "Why would I play a literal star?"

The Muppets Studio/ABC

The Oscar-winning actress remained hilariously perplexed by the question. **

"She's the greatest… what do you mean?" Stone asked. "No, of course I'm not playing Miss Piggy. And neither is [Jennifer Lawrence]. We pale in comparison. Are you out of your mind?"

She concluded, "Miss Piggy is playing Miss Piggy. She would be storming out right now at the mere suggestion."

How Emma Stone influenced the choreography for Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

The Muppets sit down with Brett Goldstein to reminisce about making 'The Muppet Christmas Carol'

Lawrence announced that she and Stone are producing the upcoming film, which is being written by Tony Award-winning playwright Cole Escola, on a November episode of Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers' Las Culturistas podcast. **

"I don't know if I can announce this, but I am going to … Emma Stone and I are producing a Miss Piggy movie and Cole [Escola] is writing it," the *Die My Love* actress confirmed at the time.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

While visiting *The Tonight Show *that same month, Lawrence explained that she was inspired to make the film after talking to a friend during lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"During lockdown, one of my good friends, who's not in the industry, was like… It was also kind of around cancel culture. It was like both things were kind of happening at once," Lawrence said. "We were all locked up in our rooms, naughty people were being locked up in prison."

She continued, "And [my friend] said, 'Miss Piggy is a feminist icon.' And she said, 'It would be so funny if Missy Piggy got canceled.'"

Lawrence rushed in to affirm that is "not the plot" of her and Stone's upcoming Muppet project, but that "it got the wheels turning" for them.

"So I started kind of producing it, but Emma Stone is the Muppet head," she said, noting that she went to Stone for ideas on how to create the film. "So now Cole is writing it and they're perfect," she added.

Lawrence also confirmed that she and Stone will make an appearance in the film. "Yeah, I think so," she said. "Yeah, I mean, I have to be, so yes."

Just not, of course, as Miss Piggy. Watch Stone discuss the film in the clip above.**

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The 'Jay Kelly' star shares 8yearold twins, Alexander and Ella, with his wife, Amal. George Clooney reveals son's reaction to finally watching Batman & Robin for first time The 'Jay Kelly' star shares 8yearold twins, Alexander and Ella, with his wife, Amal. By Raechal Shewfelt :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/RaechalShewfeltauthorphotoc49d3a3b6aa442f588f2bbc0de804e09.jpg) Raechal Shewfelt Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at . She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American Journalism Review and The Shreveport Times.

The 'Jay Kelly' star shares 8-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, with his wife, Amal.

George Clooney reveals son's reaction to finally watching Batman & Robin for first time

The 'Jay Kelly' star shares 8-year-old twins, Alexander and Ella, with his wife, Amal.

By Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt

Raechal Shewfelt is a writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2024. Her work has previously appeared on Yahoo and in American *Journalism Review* and *The Shreveport Times*.

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Alicia Silverstone, George Clooney, and Chris O'Donnell star in 1997's 'Batman & Robin'. Credit:

George Clooney starred as the Caped Crusader himself in the dismally received 1997 movie *Batman & Robin*, and he hasn't quite gotten over it.

And yet, his performance as the superhero earned at least one rave — from his 8-year-old son, after Clooney finally allowed him to watch the Joel Schumacher-helmed movie. He made the revelation when asked about Halloween in an interview *W* published Tuesday.

"Halloween's a big holiday. My son went as Batman. He hadn't seen Batman yet," Clooney dished. "I always say to him, 'You know I was Batman.' He's always like, 'No.' I don't know that he knew how profound it was when he said I wasn't Batman."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

It was enough to spur Clooney to action.

"A couple of weeks ago, I finally showed it to him," the Oscar winner said. "It wasn't great for grown-ups, but it's great for 8-year-olds, so he loved it. My daughter, meanwhile, went as a witch. She doesn't like all the princess stuff. She likes to be the evil witch."**

Clooney portrayed Batman/Bruce Wayne in the film alongside a cast that included Uma Thurman (Poison Ivy), Arnold Schwarzenegger (Mr. Freeze), Chris O'Donnell (Robin), and Alicia Silverstone (Batgirl).

George Clooney fires back at Donald Trump after tirade about his 'mediocre' movies

George Clooney didn't know this 'Jay Kelly' scene was going to happen: 'It was a surprise all right'

The star has never quite recovered, at least according to him.

Clooney has gone as far as saying that his take on Batman negatively affected those that came after him. When asked in October 2021 whether his Batman would be part of the 2023 movie *The Flash*, in which *Batman* alums Michael Keaton and Ben Affleck were set to appear, he gave a wry answer.

"They didn't ask me," he told *Variety*'s Marc Malkin. "When you destroy a franchise the way I did, usually they look the other way when *The Flash* comes by."

Amal and George Clooney attend a 'Jay Kelly' event on Oct. 10, 2025 in London.

Karwai Tang/WireImage

The *Michael Clayton* star's wife, Amal, with whom he shares twins Alexander and Ella, told the publication that he wouldn't let her watch it.

He replied, "There are certain films I just go, 'I want my wife to have some respect for me.'"

At the time, Clooney said he wouldn't allow his young kids to see the movie either.

"It's bad when your 4-year-old kid goes, 'This sucks,'" he said. "That could be painful."

He obviously changed his mind.

Clooney currently stars in the movie *Jay Kelly*, which is streaming on Netflix.**

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Avs defenseman Josh Manson has fight, 2 goals and 2 assists with dad watching

Avs defenseman Josh Manson has fight, 2 goals and 2 assists with dad watching PAT GRAHAM January 9, 2026 at 7:39 AM 0 1 / 2Senators Avalanche HockeyColorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, top, jumps on the back of Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk as they tangle by the net in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) DENVER (AP) — Josh Manson treated his father to quite a show and joined him in the exclusive Gordie Howe hat trick club.

- - Avs defenseman Josh Manson has fight, 2 goals and 2 assists with dad watching

PAT GRAHAM January 9, 2026 at 7:39 AM

0

1 / 2Senators Avalanche HockeyColorado Avalanche defenseman Josh Manson, top, jumps on the back of Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk as they tangle by the net in the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DENVER (AP) — Josh Manson treated his father to quite a show and joined him in the exclusive Gordie Howe hat trick club.

The Colorado Avalanche defenseman had two goals, two assists and a fight in an 8-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night with his father in attendance.

His dad, longtime NHL defenseman Dave Manson, also accomplished the feat during his playing career, which spanned 16 seasons.

"He's seen me fight. He's seen me score, but I don't think he's ever seen well, actually, nobody's ever seen that before from me in the NHL," Manson said. "It was a first for everybody, including myself."

Manson got his night started with a first-period fight with Ottawa defenseman Tyler Kleven. Truth be known, Manson wasn't actively seeking to engage in a fight. Kleven had a clean hit on Manson's teammate, Ivan Ivan. but Manson wanted to ignite his team, which entered the game in a two-game slide.

"I presented myself there if he wanted," explained Manson, who had the first two-goal game of his career. "I felt like it was a good time for our team. ... (Kleven) obliged."

Soon after the penalty expired, Manson scored the first goal of the contest. He had an assist on Makar's goal in the second period to complete the Gordie Howe hat trick.

"Wow, that was something," Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. "I mean, he had a Gordie Howe hat trick early in the second period and then he just kept coming. He was involved in everything tonight.

"The physicality of the game, and what we normally evaluate him on, the defending and all that, was good. And then on the offensive side of it, he just had a fantastic night. He was a big part of our win tonight."

Manson was a fight away from a double Gordie Howe hat trick. Or a goal away from his first regular hat trick.

"It's a funny business," Manson said. "Some nights you feel great and you're minus-three, and some nights you just feel OK things are going in for you."

This game changed momentum in the second period with the Avalanche leading 3-1. The Senators appeared to score only to have the Avalanche successfully challenge for offside. Colorado seized the momentum and reeled off five straight goals to take all the drama out of the contest and improve to 18-0-2 at home.

Colorado tied a franchise record for goals in a period with six in the second.

"It's kind of one of those things," Manson said, "where you start rolling."

___

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Avs defenseman Josh Manson has fight, 2 goals and 2 assists with dad watching PAT GRAHAM January 9, 2026 at 7:39 AM 0 1...

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Ilia Malinin 'surprised' by fans tossing Toothless dragon stuffies on ice

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. Ilia Malinin 'surprised' by fans tossing Toothless dragon stuffies on ice Christine Brennan, USA TODAY January 9, 2026 at 7:53 AM 0 ST. LOUIS — Ilia Malinin, the 21yearold "Quad God" of figure skating, had just finished another typically superlative performance in Thursday night's men's short program at the U.S. championships when dozens of black stuffed animals began raining down onto the ice.

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Ilia Malinin 'surprised' by fans tossing Toothless dragon stuffies on ice

Christine Brennan, USA TODAY January 9, 2026 at 7:53 AM

0

ST. LOUIS — Ilia Malinin, the 21-year-old "Quad God" of figure skating, had just finished another typically superlative performance in Thursday night's men's short program at the U.S. championships when dozens of black stuffed animals began raining down onto the ice.

These weren't the typical teddy bears or the flowers of days past showered upon a skater finishing his or her program. These were — well, what were they exactly? What did it all mean? It looked strange, and oddly menacing. They were all being thrown onto the ice from one side of the arena. Someone along press row wondered aloud if it was a protest of some sort.

It turns out that NBC and U.S. Figure Skating made the bizarre and cringe-worthy decision to link Malinin's short program costume to the network's cross-promotional efforts of the Winter Olympics and the 2025 movie "How To Train Your Dragon." It turned the moments after Malinin's program into an NBC promotion on the arena's big screen.

Listen to "Milan Magic" on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch full episodes on YouTube or on USA TODAY. The first episode drops Jan. 10.

1 / 10See the emotions: Figure skaters compete to represent the USKatie McBeath and Daniil Parkman perform in the pairs short program during the 2026 U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Enterprise Center on Jan. 7, 2026 in St. Louis, Mo.

The black stuffed animals were actually Toothless, the dragon from the movie, in honor of Malinin dressing like the main character. The movie is part of NBC's Olympic promotion and is available on Peacock, NBC's streaming service.

Although this was a collaboration between USFS and NBC, according to USFS — including the planting of all the stuffed dragons in the crowd with instructions to throw them when Malinin finished his program — Malinin said he knew nothing about it.

"I was definitely surprised with that," he said. "I did not expect that. That was definitely not my plan at all. So I was just as surprised as you are for that."

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No. 8 Gonzaga beats Santa Clara 89-77 behind 34 points and 11 rebounds from Graham Ike

No. 8 Gonzaga beats Santa Clara 8977 behind 34 points and 11 rebounds from Graham Ike January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM 0 1 / 5Santa Clara Gonzaga BasketballThe Gonzaga bench celebrates forward Graham Ike (15) scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Santa Clara, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Graham Ike had 34 points and 11 rebounds to power No. 8 Gonzaga to an 8977 victory over Santa Clara on Thursday night.

- - No. 8 Gonzaga beats Santa Clara 89-77 behind 34 points and 11 rebounds from Graham Ike

January 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM

0

1 / 5Santa Clara Gonzaga BasketballThe Gonzaga bench celebrates forward Graham Ike (15) scoring a basket and drawing a foul during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Santa Clara, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Graham Ike had 34 points and 11 rebounds to power No. 8 Gonzaga to an 89-77 victory over Santa Clara on Thursday night.

Ike made 13 of 17 field goal attempts and went 7 for 8 on free throws as the Bulldogs (17-1, 5-0 West Coast Conference) shook off a sluggish first half and won their 10th straight game since getting blown out by No. 2 Michigan in late November.

Emmanuel Innocenti added 13 points and Braden Huff scored 12 for the Zags, who shot 58% from the floor to 43% for Santa Clara. Ike finished one point short of his career high.

Allen Graves led the Broncos (13-5, 4-1) with 18 points and nine rebounds off the bench. Santa Clara upset Gonzaga in Spokane last year, but the Zags have a 73-32 lead in the series.

Santa Clara came in leading the WCC in scoring during league play at 93.5 points per game.

Ike scored 13 points as Gonzaga jumped out to a 17-9 lead, but Santa Clara closed the gap to 23-21 on Bukky Oboye's steal and layup.

Brenton Knapper's basket gave Santa Clara a 30-29 edge late in the first half, and the Broncos completed an 11-0 run for a 37-29 lead. But the Bulldogs scored the next eight points, and Ike's free throw tied it 37-all at halftime.

Santa Clara led 45-44 before Ike scored Gonzaga's next 12 points to lift the Zags to a 56-51 lead. Gonzaga then scored 17 straight points to help build a 76-55 advantage with nine minutes left.

Up next

Santa Clara hosts Loyola Marymount on Saturday.

Gonzaga plays at Washington State next Thursday.

___

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No. 8 Gonzaga beats Santa Clara 89-77 behind 34 points and 11 rebounds from Graham Ike

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