In a pair of challenges for the Comcast Battle in Seattle opponents, Derek Ravio leads as Gonzaga whips 25 ranked Texas 87-77 in Arizona while Nevada takes care of California 77-71.

Ravio made seven three pointers and scored at team high 27 points as 21st-ranked Gonzaga pulled away fro the Longhorns in the inaugural Hall of Fame Challenge. Ravio helped open up a tight contest by scoring eight points during a 17-6 spurts that closed out the first half for the Bulldogs (8-1), who led 43-33 at the break.

The Longhorns ripped off a 12-4 run to close within 55-51 with 14:04 left, but in less than three minutes Gonzaga with offensive execution and great outside shooting opened up the game after Ravio hit another 3-pointer to make it 70-53 with 11:24 to play. Gonzaga’s lead ballooned to 28 points with 5 minutes left to play before Texas finished on an 18-0 run to finish the contest.

Jeremy Pargo also had an outstanding game and finished with 18 points and six assists, while Josh Heytvelt had 13 points and 12 rebounds for Gonzaga, which shot 50 percent (31-of-62) and handed out 20 assists.

Meanwhile a day later Nevada shined in their season’s toughest early season test, taking out California in San Jose at the 10th annual Pete Newell Challenge. The victory gave the Wolf Pack their fist 7-0 start since the 1951-52 season when they won their first nine. The game also snapped California’s five game winning streak.

Despite a sub par night from star forward Nick Fazekas, Marcelus Kemp scored 20 points and Ramon Sessions added 19 as Nevada proved they are not a one-man show. The two-time reigning WAC player of the year, Fazekas came in the game averaging 24.3 points. But he struggled throughout, shooting 6-of-16 from the floor and missing a pair of huge foul shots with Nevada clinging to a four-point lead with 1:21 to play.

Nevada led by as many as 18 points in the second half but a 20-6 run by the Golden Bears tied the score at 63 with 5:17 remaining. After the teams traded baskets, Sessions took over for the Wolf Pack, scoring the next eight points on two lay-ups and four free throws to make it 73-65 with 21 seconds to play.

Next up for Gonzaga is an in-state road game against Washington State (7-1) in front of a sold out crowd in Pullman on Tuesday, They return home next Saturday against undefeated cross state rival Washington (6-0).

Nevada will begin a three game home stand next Saturday against UNLV, followed by Saint Mary’s and Pacific.