Below, you'll find a short preview of the Gonzaga-Portland matchup, some stats and a notebook item on Keegan Hyland leaving Vermont's program that will run on tomorrow's Four Corners Page.

More later on GU-Portland.

GONZAGA BULLDOGS

RECORD: 14-8, 4-3 WCC

COMING UP: Tonight at Portland; Saturday vs. Memphis, at Spokane Arena

OUTLOOK: The Bulldogs defeated the Pilots 74-61 in the conference opener nearly a month ago behind Steven Gray’s 19 points and six others scoring between 7-9 points. Portland (16-6, 4-3) made 52 percent of its shots, 58 percent of its 3s, but couldn’t overcome 20 turnovers. The Pilots start three seniors, including forward Luke Sikma, who is averaging 15.9 points and 10.4 rebounds in WCC play. They’re coming off a blowout win over WCC-leading and then-No. 24 Saint Mary’s to remain in a fourth-place tie with Gonzaga. Portland, led by guards Jared Stohl and Nemanja Mitrovic, is third nationally in 3-point accuracy (42.3 percent). Gonzaga has won 15 straight in the series and hasn’t lost in Portland since falling 67-66 in 1996.

Memphis (16-5), led by 6-6 guard Will Barton’s 13.2 points and 4.9 rebounds, is in a three-way tie for first in Conference USA. The Zags broke a four-game losing streak to Memphis with last year’s 66-58 victory.

GU STAT LEADERS

Steven Gray 15.0 ppg, 4.2 apg

Robert Sacre 13.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg

Elias Harris 12.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg

Kelly Olynyk  4.5 rpg

Demetri Goodson 3.2 apg

 

Hyland leaves Vermont

Former Gonzaga Bulldog Keegan Hyland is now a former Vermont Catamount.

Hyland left Gonzaga over the holiday break and enrolled at Vermont. The 6-foot-4 guard practiced with the Catamounts and attended school for two weeks, but a Vermont athletic department spokesman confirmed Hyland has left the team and he’s apparently returned home to Portland, Maine.

Hyland practiced sparingly because of injuries and didn’t appear in any GU games before he left the program. 

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