Zags Prevail Gu Holds Off San Diego 60-53 Despite Off Night

Jon Kinloch may have been patient and unruffled, but he was nonetheless running out of time.

“One thing I’ve learned from the players who have been really good around here is that they never lose confidence - even when they’ve struggled - that they can do something to help win the game,” the Gonzaga senior forward said.

Kinloch did exactly that Thursday night at the Martin Centre, hitting only 2 of 10 shots before netting the key basket with 30 seconds left to boost the Bulldogs to a 60-53 West Coast Conference men’s basketball win over San Diego.

USD (7-7, 2-2 in WCC play) had trimmed a 15-point GU lead to 54-51 with 1:03 left.

And with the shot clock on its final ticks, Kinloch was trapped on the baseline by USD sophomore Ryan Williams. Kinloch pump faked, though, and Williams went airborne for the block.

The crafty Kinloch ducked under Williams for the basket that put it out of reach for the Toreros.

“That was a case of a sophomore leaving his feet and a senior stepping up and making a big play,” USD coach Brad Holland said.

“I felt it was the very least I could do since I was struggling so bad,” Kinloch said.

USD point guard David Fizdale, who led the Toreros with 16 points, thought his team had come up with a giant stop - only to sink with disappointment when Kinloch’s leaner slipped through the net.

“We thought that the clock had run out on him,” Fizdale said. “But it was a great play. Every time we come up here, it’s always a game like this, always a real war. There’s never been a blowout, but I’ve never won one, either.”

To the Bulldogs (11-4, 2-1), it was the kind of play they’ve come to expect from Kinloch.

“That was so sweet,” said GU center Paul Rogers, who finished with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds. “It was a great play and he’s the sort of player you look to in the clutch. Even if he’s had troubles (shooting), he still thinks he’s hot, so we get the ball to him.”

In so many ways, the Toreros did what was necessary to defeat Gonzaga, holding the Bulldogs - the WCC’s top shooting team to a frosty 42 percent.

They forced the Bulldogs into 14 turnovers to their own dozen, and they choked off all-league point guard Kyle Dixon, holding him to six points and one lonely assist.

So why, then, did the Bulldogs come away with the win?

“Because we defended our (rears) off,” GU coach Dan Fitzgerald said. “We’re playing as good a defense as we’ve played in quite a while.”

The Toreros saw the GU surge early in the second half as a result of faulty defense.

“We slacked up just a little bit, let our intensity level drop,” Fizdale said. “And you can’t do that against these guys because they’ll make you pay for it.”

In the 9 minutes after intermission, Gonzaga broke open a 25-25 tie and pulled out to a 52-37 lead.

Although the San Diego defense gave Gonzaga considerable problems, the Toreros were unable to match up with Rogers.

“He’s a 7-footer who is superactive and we just didn’t have anybody to contend with that,” Holland said.

Gonzaga has won 20 of its last 22 games in the Martin Centre, including 12 in a row.

“There are no ugly wins in conference,” Fitzgerald said. “We’re playing some great defense now. I’ll tell you, if this team ever starts to make its shots, it’s going to be pretty good.”

Gonzaga 60, San Diego 53

San Diego (7-7) - Jacobsen 1-5 2-2 4, Fizdale 5-9 6-6 16, Raffo 0-1 0-0 0, Courtney 1-2 0-0 3, Williams 3-5 0-2 6, Speech 1-2 0-0 2, Mutrie 1-1 0-0 3, Black 3-7 1-2 7, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Obasohan 1-5 0-0 2, Miles 4-6 1-1 10. Totals 20-45 10-13 53.

Gonzaga (11-4) - Dixon 2-7 2-2 6, Rollins 0-3 0-0 0, Snider 1-5 2-2 4, Rogers 7-10 7-9 21, Kinloch 3-11 6-7 13, Williams 5-7 0-0 14, Leasure 0-0 0-0 0, Nemeth 0-0 0-0 0, Morgan 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 19-45 17-20 60.

Halftime-Gonzaga 25, San Diego 25. 3-Point goals- San Diego 3-11 (Fizdale 0-1, Courtney 1-1, Williams 0-2, Mutrie 1-1, Smith 0-2, Obasohan 0-2, Miles 1-2), Gonzaga 5-13 (Dixon 0-1, Rollins 0-1, Kinloch 1-6, Williams 4-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-San Diego 26 (Williams 6), Gonzaga 29 (Rogers 10). Assists-San Diego 8 (Fizdale 5), Gonzaga 8 (Snider 4). Total fouls-San Diego 15, Gonzaga 11. A-3,352.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo