NCAA basketball

Lisa Fortier didn’t try to dance around the obvious Thursday.

From staff reports

From staff reports

From staff reports

PULLMAN – By the time Nolan Hickman raised up for a corner 3-pointer with 26 seconds remaining in the first half, deflating Washington State’s crowd with a shot that would extend Gonzaga’s lead to 24 points, it was almost hard to remember what transpired during the first four minutes at Beasley Coliseum.

PULLMAN – Perhaps with trepidation about wintry Inland Northwest road conditions, a handful of Washington State and Gonzaga fans with tickets to Wednesday’s rivalry game held off on actually making the trip to Beasley Coliseum.

PULLMAN — David Riley folded the paper in half, then tucked it under his arm, ready to watch his Washington State team try to make up ground late against Gonzaga.

WSU’s first announced sellout in 15 years fell more than 1,000 fans shy of the building’s listed seating capacity, and many of those occupying seats made an early exit – some dashing for doors as early as halftime, once Gonzaga built a 22-point lead.

It was an aha moment.

Nolan Hickman’s eyesight and shooting form is just fine, even if he’s seeing a wide rim. The senior guard produced one of the best games of his career with 23 points and five assists as Gonzaga handled Washington State 84-63 on Wednesday at Beasley Coliseum.

PULLMAN – Here are three observations from Gonzaga’s 84-63 West Coast Conference win over Washington State on Wednesday at Beasley Coliseum.

A basketball team’s outlook sure can change a lot in two weeks.

As it turns out, all talk Saturday about the Gonzaga women’s basketball team being on the brink of securing a double bye into the West Coast Conference tournament was moot.

PULLMAN – Nolan Hickman scored a ticket the last time Washington State filled up Beasley Coliseum, making a weekend getaway to Pullman during his junior season at Eastside Catholic High School in Seattle for a Pac-12 game against Oregon State on Jan. 18, 2020.

PULLMAN – Isaiah Watts admits he remembers his biggest misses. His Washington State team counts on him to fill it up on the scoreboard, and as his sophomore season comes to a close, he’s obliged in some of the biggest spots.

PULLMAN – Washington State’s Nate Calmese has already recorded one career victory over Gonzaga. The Washington transfer never saw the floor, but he was part of postgame locker room celebrations when the Huskies pulled off an 78-73 upset over the Zags last season in Seattle.

With four games remaining, the final stretch of the West Coast Conference regular season promises to put Gonzaga to the test.

Last year, as Eastern Washington surged through the Big Sky Conference schedule and played only its second game in the NCAA Tournament, Ella Gallatin mostly watched games from the bench.

For the first time this year, and with only four regular-season games remaining, the West Coast Conference’s Player of the Week honor has been awarded to a Gonzaga player.