Gonzaga bounces back against Portland

It seemed the Pilots might have left half of their players up in the air this evening while they played the Gonzaga Bulldogs at the McCarthy Athletic Center. 

As the second best team in the league, coming in with a 5-2 record in conference and a 14-7 overall, the Pilots left the McCarthey Center deflated, dropping to 5-3. 

The Zags trounced the Pilots 76-49 in a rebound game after their 81-77 overtime loss this past Saturday at San Francisco against the Dons.

"I was not sure what we were in for after the loss to USF," Reveno said.

Currently No. 13, the Zags left the floor at halftime up by 20.

The first half belonged to Mangisto Arop, who went 3-for-3  from the field and scored seven points for the Zags. Four of those came after rebounds where Arop flew over Bulldogs and Pilots alike to pluck the ball out of the air. 

The game started slow for the Zags, with only 13 points scored total in the first 9 minutes of play. 

Free throws continued to be the Achilles heal in the first half, as the Zags went 3-for-8 from the line.

This continued to hinder the Zags through to the second half, with the Zags not capitalizing on free throws.  They finished at 50 percent (11-for-22) on the night.

The McCarthey Center erupted the loudest when Will Foster made his first two free throws of the year with 2 minutes left. The 7-footer went 2-for-4 on his free throws for the evening. 

A few Zags were strong off the bench, earning 14 points at half, and 24 overall. Michael Hart stepped up sinking a three with thirty seconds left to play, and Grant Gibbs playing strong defense and knocked down a 3-pointer in the first. 

The Bulldogs were strong in the paint, offensively and defensively, holding Portland to 18 on the interior while capitalizing on their ineffective play down low. The Bulldogs were also strong on the offensive glass. 

Portland's Head Coach Eric Reveno said the Zags offensive rebounding got the better of the Pilots tonight. 
Head Coach Mark Few said the strengths in the Zags tonight were in their defense and rebounding.

"I can't imagine them playing better defense than they did in the first half", Reveno said of the Zags. 

"When playing a top 20 team your margin for error is very limited" Reveno said, "Our offense needed to be careful."

But in many instances they were not and the Bulldogs were able to capitalize on these mistakes. 

"Their (the Zags) physicality on the post, and pressure on the ball was outstanding", Reveno said.
 
The immense team chemistry that the Zags possess was displayed throughout the game.  With 13:50 left in the second half Harris stole the ball on a breakaway, and lost his two Pilot guards with a spin move most ballerinas would be jealous of.  He then connected with Gray midair for dunk heard round the Kennel. 

The bulldogs were little sluggish to start the second half, but Bouldin provided an offensive spark, scoring 12 after the break and 20 overall. 

Bouldin moved into 10th on Gonzaga's scoring list with 1,518.

Few said the team needs to take that same "passion and physicality" into Saturdays game at the University of Memphis.