Recap and highlights: Rui Hachimura lifts No. 4 Gonzaga over San Diego to remain unbeaten in WCC play

Rui Hachimura poured in 32 points as No. 4 Gonzaga used a strong second half to power Past San Diego 85-69 on Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Hachimura finished one point shy of tying a career high. The junior forward also grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots.

Zach Norvell Jr. added 21 points for Gonzaga (21-2 overall, 8-0 WCC), hitting five 3-pointers.

Isaiah Pineiro paced the Toreros (15-8, 4-4) with a career-best 30 points.

Brandon Clarke and Josh Perkins also scored in double figures for the Zags, netting 12 points each.

GU shot 53.7 percent from the floor and 42.9 percent from deep, while San Diego shot 46.2 percent overall and 43.5 percent from 3-point range.

The Bulldogs finished with 10 turnovers, while forcing USD into 17. The Zags also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Toreros 38-18.

The Bulldogs welcome San Francisco to Spokane on Thursday (6 p.m., KHQ)

Second half

Final – Gonzaga 85, San Diego 69: Make that 12 straight wins and an unbeaten record in West Coast Conference play for the Bulldogs, who powered past the Toreros in the final 10 minutes.

Strong showings inside and out from the tandem of Rui Hachimura and Zach Norvell Jr. to pace the Zags.

2:10 – Gonzaga 80, San Diego 62: Zach Norvell Jr. getting hot for the Zags as the sophomore guard is up to 20 points with five 3-pointers.

Turnovers haven been a big problem for San Diego tonight as GU has forced the Toreros into 17 giveaways.

Plenty of minutes tonight for GU’s Jeremy Jones, who has guarded Isaiah Pineiro much of the second half. Just 16 minutes so far for Corey Kispert, who has played well recently for the Zags.

Rui Hachimura now at 32 points, one shy of his career high.

Zags should be able to put this one away with ease after being pushed hard by San Diego for 30 minutes.

7:23 – Gonzaga 64, San Diego 53: Bulldogs on a bit of a sloppy stretch as the San Diego press has caused GU some trouble.

Zags still playing solid enough defense to keep the Toreros at arm’s length. GU also into the bonus as San Diego has some early foul problems (three players with four fouls).

Rui Hachimura hits the 30-point mark for just the second time this season. He’s four points away from breaking his career high of 33 points, which was set in the season opener against Idaho State.

Isaiah Pineiro also on 30-point watch for USD as he’s up to 28 points on 11 of 21 shooting. Isaiah Wright with nine points for the Toreros.

11:48 – Gonzaga 56, San Diego 46: Bit of a spark off the bench for Gonzaga as Geno Crandall throws down the alley-oop dunk.

This one has been the Rui Hachimura vs. Isaiah Pineiro show though as the offensive weapons have 28 and 23 points respectively.

Brandon Clarke also helping out on the offensive end with six points on 3 of 6 shooting to go with his four rebounds.

Zags shooting 55.3 percent overall and 42.9 percent from deep.

15:49 – Gonzaga 48, San Diego 39: Safe to say Rui Hachimura is feeling it tonight when the junior big man opens the second half with a 3-pointer. He’s now at 24 points to lead all scorers.

More good interior defense from the Zags as Brandon Clarke holds his ground well to get his second block of the game. The sophomore transfer from San Jose State is now two blocks from breaking the Gonzaga single-season record of 70, which was set by Austin Daye in 2008-09.

Gonzaga keeping the lead around 10 points, but San Diego uses a 5-1 run to force a GU timeout.

First half

Halftime – Gonzaga 40, San Diego 32: Give San Diego plenty of credit over the first 20 minutes. Outside of Rui Hachimura, the Bulldogs haven’t been able to get much going on the offensive end.

Hachimura up to 20 points, three rebounds, a steal and a block to pace GU. Zach Norvell Jr. has 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, for the Zags, but no one else has more than four points.

Isaiah Pineiro leading the Toreros with 15 points on 6 of 12 shooting.

GU shooting 51.7 percent overall and 40 percent from deep, while USD is shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 50 percent from 3-point range.

Zags dominating in the paint, outscoring USD 22-10. GU also outrebounding San Diego 17-8.

Gonzaga with five first-half turnovers, while San Diego finished with 10.

2:24 – Gonzaga 34, San Diego 32: Much needed couple of buckets for the Zags as Rui Hachimura again shows his strength inside to convert the 3 point play, followed by a Zach Norvell Jr. triple.

Hachimura adds a steal and slam and now has 18 points in what has been one of his best halves of the season. Norvell up to eight points.

San Diego not going away yet though as Tyler Williams hits the three to keep the Toreros within one possession of the fourth-ranked Zags.

6:38 – Gonzaga 24, San Diego 24: San Diego comes out of the media break on a 9-2 run to draw level with Gonzaga.

A strong play under the basket by Rui Hachimura puts the Zags back on top briefly before another USD bucket and matching 3-pointers level the score back up.

Hachimura up to 13 points, three rebounds and a block for GU. Zags just 1 of 3 from 3-point range so far, while USD has hit 4 of 8 from deep.

Isaiah Pineiro the first Torero into double figures with 12 points.

11:36 – Gonzaga 17, San Diego 10: Gonzaga’s defense still playing at a high level, forcing a 10-second call on a half-court trap.

Zach Norvell Jr. gets on the scoresheet for the Zags with a nice take to the basket. Killian Tillie also gets his first shot to fall and has two points.

Rui Hachimura up to 11 points to lead the Bulldogs, who are shooting 53.8 percent from the floor, but have four turnovers.

Isaiah Pineiro up to nine points to pace San Diego, which is shooting just 30.8 percent from the floor

14:56 – Gonzaga 5, San Diego 5: No shortage of defensive intensity from either team in the opening minutes. Possessions are taking most of the shot clock and are ending in contested looks.

First highlight play of the night belongs to GU’s Rui Hachimura, who stops a breakaway layup with a massive block. GU’s Josh Perkins turns the ball right back over though.

San Diego leaning on its pair of Isaiah’s (Pineiro and Wright), who have all of the Toreros points. Hachimura has three for Gonzaga, while Brandon Clarke has a bucket and a block.

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