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Gonzaga Basketball

Jordan Mathews and Josh Perkins shine for Gonzaga

Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski (24) moves into the key during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sat., Feb. 4, 2017, in the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski (24) moves into the key during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sat., Feb. 4, 2017, in the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

Jordan Mathews and Josh Perkins delivered big games in Gonzaga’s 90-55 win over Santa Clara with Nigel Williams-Goss watching from the sideline.

Mathews had reached double figures just once in the last six games. He was 7 of 29 from the field and just 2 of 15 on 3s in his previous three games.

He made 5 of 7 attempts, 2 of 4 from long distance, against the Broncos.

“After BYU, I talked to my parents and they just said, ‘You’ve never had a shooting slump like this before,’ ” Mathews said. “So it was new and I was aggravated. I got back in the gym a lot Friday, last night and just shot it out.”

Perkins scored 11 points against BYU, his first time in double digits in seven games. He buried 3 of 6 3-pointers Saturday, including a pair at the end of the first half to put GU up 37-23.

“I wouldn’t call it a slump,” he said. “A little banged up, shots I usually make weren’t going in. I give (teammates) a lot of credit for keeping my head in it and keeping me aggressive and telling me to shoot it no matter the result.

“Tonight was the night it went in and it felt pretty good.”