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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga faces former USF standout Devin Watson again at San Diego State

In this Jan. 8, 2015 file photo, San Francisco’s Devin Watson (21) passes the ball while defended by Gonzaga’s Kevin Pangos (4) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spokane. Watson, who transfered to San Diego State, leads the Aztecs in scoring this season at 13.4 points per game. (Young Kwak / Associated Press)

Gonzaga encounters a familiar foe on a couple of fronts Thursday. The Zags roughed up San Diego State 69-48 last season at the McCarthey Athletic Center. The Aztecs’ leading scorer this season is guard Devin Watson (13.4), a transfer from San Francisco with a 16.2 scoring average against the Zags in five meetings.

The 6-foot-1, 172-pound junior, at times can be a volume shooter – he’s only made 50 percent or better in two games – but the Zags have seen what Watson can do when he gets hot. Watson had 33 points in an overtime loss to GU in 2016. He had 26 points in a win over San Diego on Nov. 30.

Josh Perkins will probably start on Watson, who is coming off an 0-for-6 effort in a loss to Cal. Watson has hit just 39.8 percent from the field and 24.4 percent of his 3-pointers, but he’s made his way to the free-throw line a team-high 46 times. He’s made 82.6 percent at the line.