Johnathan Williams, Josh Perkins lead No. 19 Gonzaga over Loyola Marymount 85-66
Johnathan Williams finished with a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds as No. 19 Gonzaga used a huge second-half spurt to defeat 85-66 on Saturday in Los Angeles.
After watching their double-digit lead shrink to just four points at halftime, the Bulldogs (14-3, 4-0 WCC) opened up the second half on a 17-0 run, which included a barrage of 3-point makes and thunderous dunks from Williams.
Loyola Marymount (5-10, 0-4) kept the Zags within reach in the first half, mainly by shooting 57 percent from 3-point range. The Lions were led by Steven Haney’s 22-point showing – 17 of which came in the opening 10 minutes.
Four Zags finished in double figures scoring, as Zach Norvell Jr. (12), Josh Perkins (12) and Rui Hachimura (11) all joined Williams. Perkins also finished with a double-double, dishing out a career-high 10 assists.
Gonzaga did show some sloppy moments near the end of the game, as it struggled to deal with LMU’s full-court press and trapping. Both teams finished with 12 turnovers.
Gonzaga will now return home to the The Kennel when it hosts Portland on Thursday at 6 p.m. (KHQ).
Second half
Final – Gonzaga 85, LMU 66: Massive showing from Johnathan Williams as he finishes with 30 points and 10 rebounds. 17-0 run to open the second half was the difference in this one, along with Loyola Marymount coming back to earth a bit with its 3-point shooting.
Turnovers still a problem for Gonzaga, especially against the press and while being trapped.
3:38 – Gonzaga 78, LMU 62: Give Loyola Marymount some credit, the Lions aren’t going away too quietly. Gonzaga’s lead cut to 16, but this one is all but finished.
Norvell hits the 10-point mark for the Bulldogs, while Perkins and Kispert are at eight apiece. Zags are also getting a little sloppy with the basketball, now up to 12 turnovers as the Lions switch to the full-court pressure and trapping.
Bulldogs have scored just eight points in the last 8 1/2 minutes.
7:28 – Gonzaga 74, LMU 55: Zags into cruise control after that opening surge to start the half.
In non-scoring news, Perkins has a career-high 10 assists to go with his eight points. As a team, Gonzaga has 19 assists on 31 made baskets. He also has one block.
Hachimura becomes the second Gonzaga player in double figures with 11 points.
After scoring 18 first-half points for the Lions, Haney has been shutout so far in the second half.
11:53 – Gonzaga 70, LMU 45: LMU finally gets on the board in the second half with a 3-pointer to break a 17-0 Gonzaga run.
Williams now up to 28 points for the Zags. He’s also up to seven or eight on a dunk counter for the evening. Poor rims.
Zags have also regained the rebounding advantage, 29-20.
15:32 – Gonzaga 62, LMU 41: Bulldogs come out of the locker room on fire, hitting their first three shots, capped by a Perkins triple as the lead grows back to double figures. 16-0 run to open the half for Gonzaga.
Johnathan Williams the first to hit 20 points , while Perkins and Zach Norvell Jr. are up to eight. Two nights after leading the team in scoring, Killian Tillie has just five points and three shots.
Gonzaga shooting nearly 65 percent in this one. Outstanding halftime response from the Zags
First half
Halftime – Gonzaga 46, LMU 41: Corey Kispert hits his second triple off the bench for Gonzaga, which would already have this one wrapped up if not for LMU’s fantastic 3-point display.
Williams has 18 points to lead the Zags, while Haney also has 18 for the Lions. He’s hit five 3-pointers.
Zags shooting 63 percent from the floor, Lions 42 percent. LMU hitting 57 percent from deep compared to Gonzaga’s 50 percent. Both teams with six turnovers and 17 rebounds.
3:24 – Gonzaga 39, LMU 28: As has been the case in the Zags’ first four WCC games, this one looks ready to get out of hand.
LMU has no answer for Gonzaga’s size inside, and outside of a pair of 3-pointers LMU hasn’t created much offense.
Williams having a phenomenal game for the Zags. He’s at 16 points on 7 of 9 shooting. He also has a pair of rebounds, an assist and a steal.
7:47 – Gonzaga 32, LMU 20: Little lackadaisical from Rui Hachimura and Perkins as Gonzaga turns the ball over for the first time tonight, but that’s about all that has gone wrong for the Zags.
Coach Mark Few giving backup forwards Hachimura and Jacob Larsen plenty of minutes, and they’re proving why they’re deserving of them on the defensive side.
Rui also doing in on offense. After snatching a rebound, the sophomore takes it coast to coast and finishes with a nifty figer roll while getting fouled for a 3-point play. He has seven points and two boards.
11:58 – Gonzaga 23, LMU 16: Huge slam from Gonzaga’s Johnathan Williams puts the Zags in front for the first time tonight. Bulldogs rattle off a 7-0 run as LMU starts to cool down on the offensive end.
Gonzaga shooting 60 percent from the field so far, while the Lions are hitting at a 50 percent clip.
Williams leads the Zags with 10 points. The Bulldogs have also forced three Lions turnovers.
15:54 – LMU 9, Gonzaga 8: Battle of contrasting styles early on as Gonzaga is keen to pound the paint, while Loyola Marymount is having no trouble hitting from 3-point range.
Josh Perkins is the only Gonzaga player to hit from deep so far and leads the team with three points.
LMU’s Steven Haney has six points to lead all scorers. Lions are a perfect 3 for 3 from deep.
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No. 19 Bulldogs vs. Lions
NCAA BASKETBALL
At Gersten Pavilion, Los Angeles
➤ Saturday, Jan. 6: Gonzaga Bulldogs at Loyola Marymount Lions, 7 p.m. PT TV: ESPNU