A vigorous environment in Moraga with the all the time packed College Credit score Union Pavilion. Senior Night time at Saint Mary’s for some all-time Gaels in Mitchell Saxen and Alex Ducas however Gonzaga performed the spoilers with their NCAA Match hopes on the road. The Gaels had their sixteen sport profitable streak snapped (beforehand led the nation).
Ryan Nembhard (20 factors on 9-15, 2-4 3PT, 10 assists/1 turnover, 3 rebounds, 2 steals) was dialed in early on, seeing two steps forward of everybody. He was the perfect participant on the ground by far. Not simply along with his capability to get others concerned however truly being the highest scoring menace in any respect the totally different ranges for Gonzaga which you haven’t see a ton from him this season. He acts extra as a facilitator however actually did all of it offensively tonight.
The Zags beat the Gaels 16-2 in quick break factors on 13 compelled turnovers due to Nembhard’s push. Working Saint Mary’s out the fitness center was the secret. He has utterly opened up the Gonzaga offense as of late. What he did in opposition to one of many high defenses in faculty basketball tonight shouldn’t go unnoticed nationally.
It was a battle on the low block between Graham Ike (24 factors on 11-20 FG, 10 rebounds, 3 blocks) and Mitchell Saxen (13 factors on 5-10 FG, 5 rebounds, 4 turnovers, 2 assists, 1 steal), the 2 finest large males within the West Coast Convention. Ike has such a mild contact inside the important thing. This needed to be his finest two-way efficiency of the season, doing it on each ends of the ground. He was letting the street crowd understand it too after a couple of of his defensive stops. Ike is the primary participant to attain a minimum of 20 factors in seven straight video games since Adam Morrison in 2005-2006. He has solidified himself because the WCC’s Participant of the Yr along with his play of late and particularly tonight.
Because it has been for many of this season, Gonzaga compelled the rock inside and beat their opponent on the rim (42-26 with factors within the paint) for the Zags). Saint Mary’s was restricted within the frontcourt with out Joshua Jefferson and Harry Wessels which had been main losses for the Gaels. It’s important to surprise how a lot of a distinction would these two have made.
Ben Gregg (12 factors on 4-5 FG/1-2 PT/3-4 FT) continues to develop into his new beginning lineup position as a substitute of coming off the bench. He dives for unfastened balls, places his physique on the road defensively, and is hitting extra deep seems to be constantly than he did at first of the season. The Zags are an general higher workforce with him and Dusty Stromer switching locations. Mark Few is aware of what the hell he’s doing.
No different workforce within the nation has gotten higher general in comparison with the start of the season to now greater than Gonzaga. They know what time of the yr it’s. Las Vegas is now up because the Zags may have the #2 seed within the WCC Match and can play on March eleventh straight to the semifinals.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga College graduate from the Bay Space… Comply with him on Twitter @a_cravalho
