Gonzaga Bulldogs ahead Graham Ike (13) fights for the opening tip in opposition to Baylor Bears ahead Norchad Omier (15) within the first half at Spokane Area. Necessary Credit score: James Snook-Imagn Pictures No. 3 Gonzaga welcomes Lengthy Seaside State to Spokane, Wash., on Wednesday for a tuneup earlier than they head for the Bahamas and a three-day run on the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The Bulldogs (4-0) scored a season-low 80 factors to deal San Diego State solely its fourth double-digit house loss beneath coach Brian Dutcher on Monday behind 23 factors in 20 minutes from Graham Ike and 19 from Ryan Nembhard. The seniors scored 30 of Gonzaga’s 40 factors within the second half, hanging one other high quality wins pelt on the wall and constructing a resume worthy of a No. 1 NCAA Event seed.
The Bulldogs survived SDSU’s smothering protection however made only one of 9 second-half 3-point tries. Nembhard, Michael Ajayi, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle mixed to shoot 2 of 14 from 3-point vary.
Head coach Mark Few credited Nembhard, who had 10 assists and three turnovers, for maintaining Gonzaga on track in opposition to a bodily protection within the first highway sport of the season. Gonzaga helped itself by making 27 of 31 foul photographs; Ike and Nembhard made a mixed 17 of 19.
Nembhard has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 8-1 with 40 assists and 5 turnovers, a gradual and constant calm Few will lean into much more as Gonzaga packs for Nassau and its opening sport in opposition to West Virginia on the eve of Thanksgiving.
“He managed that entire sport for 40 minutes. I do not suppose anyone is enjoying higher within the nation than him on the level spot,” Few mentioned. “On this setting, in opposition to that protection, that sort of physicality and the problem speaking … he was completely large.”
Earlier than they head for a match vacation on the seaside, Gonzaga prepares for Lengthy Seaside State with the Dirtbags contemporary off one other shut loss.
The Seaside dropped to 1-3 in a 63-61 loss to Portland on Saturday, trimming an eight-point deficit within the closing 3:26. Devin Askew’s tried game-winner did not fall. The defeat got here six days after a heartbreaking loss to South Dakota State, which drained a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in an 80-79 victory.
First-year coach Chris Acker has 12 newcomers on his roster after the 2023-24 season ended with Lengthy Seaside State (1-3) parting with former Gonzaga coach Dan Monson just for The Seaside to make a run to the NCAA Event by profitable the Large West convention match.
Acker mentioned he is aware of the “true rebuild” can take time with lower than 5 p.c of the group’s scoring, rebounding and minutes performed again from final yr’s roster.
Askew is a headliner. He is averaging 17.3 factors, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds within the first 4 video games of the season.
The senior has 82 complete video games beneath his belt. He began 20 video games at Kentucky as a freshman in 2020-21, bouncing to Texas for one season after which logging two years at Cal. He has battled accidents over his profession but additionally is aware of the sensation of strolling into unfriendly environs just like the one which awaits Wednesday night time at McCarthey Athletic Heart.
“He is competed on the highest degree, so he is aware of what that should seem like,” Acker mentioned.
Lengthy Seaside State has misplaced three consecutive video games since defeating La Verne 93-48 within the season opener.
–Subject Degree Media
