Battered Raivio may miss GU’s contest with WSU

Gonzaga coach Mark Few still doesn’t know if he’ll have starting point guard Derek Raivio available for Thursday night’s game against regional rival Washington State.

“He’s really beat up right now,” Few said Tuesday of Raivio, who suffered bruises on his back and hip after taking an ugly fall during the first half of Sunday night’s 99-95 road loss to Washington. “He’s definitely questionable. And even if he is able to play, it’s probably going to be really minimal (minutes).”

Raivio, who left Sunday’s game with about 9 1/2 minutes left in the first half and never returned, was dressed for practice on Tuesday but was not moving well at all.

“We’ve got to prepare like we’re not going to have him,” Few said of the 6-foot-3 junior, who is averaging 14 points and three assists per game. “But I will say he’s one of the most resilient players we’ve ever had.

“He’s never missed a practice. He even hates missing part of a drill. So, for him not to be able to go, he’s really, really hurt.”

Morrison leads nation

With his 43 points against UW on Sunday, the Bulldogs’ Adam Morrison not only equaled the career-high scoring mark he set in a triple-overtime win over Michigan State in last month’s EA Sports Maui Invitational, but he also moved into the top spot on the NCAA Division I scoring list.

Through six games this fall, the 6-8 junior shooting guard is averaging 29.7 points per game. Iona’s Steve Burtt is second at 26.6.

In addition, GU’s Derek Raivio is one of 10 players tied for the NCAA lead in free-throw percentage at 100. His 20 made free throws are the most by any of the percentage leaders.

As a team, the Zags are third nationally in free-throw percentage (84.0) and eighth in scoring (85.5 ppg).

But the Bulldogs rank 263rd in defense, having allowed an average of 81 points per game.