SALT LAKE CITY, UT – The 5-seed Gonzaga Bulldogs got here out quick and out-worked 4-seed Kansas within the second spherical of the NCAA Event and is heading to the spherical of 16 for the ninth 12 months in a row after downing the Jayhawks 89-68.
Identical to the Zags’ first-round win over McNeese State, the Bulldogs unfold the ball round effectively, as that they had 5 gamers end with double-digit factors.
Anton Watson was feeling himself all sport, throwing down dunks, draining jumpers, and including a three-ball for a workforce main 21 factors. Nolan Hickman was on hearth from wherever he shot the ball, going 3-for-4 from deep and 7-of-11 from the sector for 17 factors. Ben Gregg couldn’t miss, going 2-for-2 from three and 6-of-6 from the sector for 15 factors whereas additionally getting 9 rebounds. Graham Ike additionally went to work within the paint and earned 15 factors and 9 rebounds. The freshman, Braden Huff, put in a ton of productive minutes off the bench in clutch moments, as he cashed 11 complete factors.
Whereas the three gave Gonzaga a lift of momentum and helped them draw back, it was the work down low that powered the Zags to the 21-point victory. The Bulldogs received 32 factors within the paint and out-rebounded the Jayhawks 38-33.
Popping out of the gates within the first half, Gonzaga was red-hot, beginning on a 6-0 run earlier than cooling down and permitting Kansas to take the lead after occurring a 15-4 run.
On the half, Kansas had a slim one-point lead, however no matter Gonzaga head coach Mark Few stated to his workforce within the locker room labored because the Zags began the second half scoring on their first 10 possessions and went on an 18-5 run, taking a 61-49 lead earlier than there have been 5 minutes gone within the second half.
The Zags saved their foot on the gasoline and their palms within the faces of the Jayhawks gamers as they cruised to the large victory, solely permitting Kansas to get 24 factors within the again half of the sport.
Gonzaga shot the ball exponentially effectively, going 60.3% from the sector, 53.3% from three, and 73.3% from the free-throw line. The Jayhawks, alternatively, didn’t play effectively offensively as they shot 38.6% from the sector, 40.9% from three, and 55.6% from the free-throw line.
Ryan Nembhard struggled taking pictures the ball, going 1-of-6 from the sector and had simply 5 factors, however he excelled in passing the ball, dispensing a workforce main 12 assists. Nembhard’s eleventh assists of the sport, that arrange Watson for an open three, made him the single-season assists chief for the Zags with 236 assists this season. He handed Josh Perkins who final performed for the Zags in 2019. Perkins set the document in 37 video games, and Nembhard set the brand new document in simply 34 video games.
No. 5-seed Gonzaga advances to the spherical of 16 and can play the winner of 1-seed Purdue and 8-seed Utah State, who play on Sunday at 11:40 a.m. The Gonzaga Bulldogs will now journey to Detroit, Michigan, for the spherical of 16 matchup that may happen within the Little Caesars Area on Friday; the time and broadcast particulars shall be introduced after all of the second spherical NCAA Event video games are full.
