Gonzaga University’s men's basketball team has reached number one in national rankings for the first time. The Spokane team earned the top spot in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches polls Monday.

Gonzaga, nicknamed the Zags, finished regular season play with a 29-2 record. The teams ranked behind them – Indiana, Duke and Kansas – have 25-4 records.

Student Connor Cahill leads Gonzaga’s raucous student section, the Kennel Club.

"Everyone’s just abuzz today with how incredible it is to be number one in the country. That a small school up in Spokane, Washington can be ranked ahead of basketball legends like Indiana, Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, it’s pretty unbelievable.”

To celebrate, students powered up music and flocked to the steps of the student center. They were treated with a 22-foot-long cake provided by the dining services.

Cahill estimates that 800 students will head to Las Vegas for the team’s next game. There, the Zags play Saturday in the West Coast Conference tournament.

Copyright 2013 Spokane Public Radio

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