Gonzaga Bulldogs: Zags 360 – Zags take to the road and steal two victories
Teresa Powe
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The Gonzaga Bulldogs take to the road and steal victories from WCC rivals San Francisco and Santa Clara. Now No. 9 is No.8.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs pulled off two victory heists against San Francisco and Santa Clara. I saw Gonzaga playing a lot of defense this week, and I liked it.
Gonzaga has won 48 out of their last 50 meetings with the Santa Clara Broncos, and this week they won their 25th straight game against them.
Games of the Week
Gonzaga Bulldogs (77) vs. San Francisco Dons (75)
I wish I could say that this was a regular run-of-the-mill Gonzaga Bulldogs up by 50 points in the first half game. But I can’t. The Bulldogs didn’t get a lead in this game until the final seven seconds.
Had it not been for Rasir Bolton, this would have been GU’s first loss to San Francisco in 25 games. The Dons kept the lead over Gonzaga with their defense, especially on Drew Timme, who was held to 11 points.
USF had a 10-point lead after the first half. As a matter of fact, they held the lead all game, except when the score was tied, until the end.
Julian Strawther had 16 points and 6 rebounds to lead the Gonzaga Bulldogs. Anton Watson chipped in l4 points and 4 rebounds.
Khalil Shabazz (17 points, 9 rebounds) and Tyrell Roberts (18 points, 5 rebounds) led the way for San Francisco.
Gonzaga Bulldogs (81) vs. Santa Clara Broncos (76)
Did someone send out a bulletin to the West Coast teams that the way to defeat the Gonzaga Bulldogs was with brute strength? This week’s games have been brutal in defense. Santa Clara got very physical very early, basically shutting down the Gonzaga big men.
Another key to shutting down the Gonzaga players was free throws. Did I miss the memo stating players needn’t be able to shoot a free throw? The Zag players missed 8 from the charity stripe in this game.
Although he missed 4 free throws, Timme had 20 points and 6rebounds. He was followed by Julian Strawther, who had 18 and 6 rebounds.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs defense was tight, especially with Malachi Smith and Hunter Sallis on the floor, but Santa Clara kept getting through. By the 11:00 mark of the second half, there had been 11 ties in the game.
The Bronco’s Keshawn Justice led their team with 22 points and 4 rebounds. Brandin Podziemski contributed 17 points and 7 boards, and Parker Braun chipped in 12 and 11 rebounds.
The Gonzaga Stars of the Games
Bolton was hands down the star and savior of the San Francisco game. With 3:19 left, the fifth-year senior decided this contest was for him to win.
A three-pointer had the score 68-71, but San Francisco would not be denied. They kept coming, and the Zags could not seem to pull ahead. At 2:40, another Bolton trey kept them close but not in front.
Twenty seconds later, Hickman scored two off a Bolton pass, tying the game. Finally, a Timme miss and a Bolton putback sent the Zags ahead by two points, 77-75. Bolton was fouled on the play but missed the free throw.
Nolan Hickman gets the game ball for the Santa Clara game. Although he and Timme each had 20 points but this one goes to Hickman for finally coming out of his shell or wherever he was hiding.
Hickman shot four of five from beyond the arc. Without those three-pointers, this would have been a losing outing for Gonzaga. His defense is also improving.
What’s next?
The Bulldogs remain on the road traveling to Salt Lake City Thursday, January 12, to face Brigham Young for the second to last time these rivals will meet in West Coast Conference regular season play before the Cougars head off to the Big 12.
It will be a tough task for GU in Provo. So far this season, the Cougars’ defense is stifling on the perimeter.
Gonzaga’s Timme had this to say about his rivals of the past four years:
“The ROC is awesome, man. It’s one of the best places to play,” Timme told a local reporter, referring to BYU’s student section called The Roar of the Cougar and ROC for short. “All their fans are psycho and crazy. It’s great. It’s a special place.”
https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2023/01/08/what-gonzagas-drew-timme-said/
The Cougars are 3-1 in conference play and 13-6 overall with a one-game win streak.
The Zags next stop is back home at the Kennel. On Saturday, January 14, Gonzaga takes on the beleaguered Portland Pilots. Portland is 0-3 in conference play and 8-10 overall with a 5-game losing streak.
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Stay safe and healthy out there!