Gonzaga notebook: Together at last

The return of Steven Gray on Monday gave Gonzaga its first chance to see its three highly-touted freshmen on the court together in a regular-season game.

Gray, who sat out of the Bulldogs’ first 10 games with a broken wrist, contributed 12 points and four rebounds in a 77-57 victory over Northern Colorado at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Coupled with Austin Daye (18 points, seven rebounds) and Robert Sacre (eight points, four rebounds), the three freshmen combined for 38 of the team’s 77 points and helped GU’s bench outscore UNC’s 41-26.

“For me, him and Rob to finally get to play together, it’s really fun,” said Daye, gesturing at Gray at a nearby locker. “I’m enjoying it.”

Gray, pressed into extended duty because of injuries to guard Matt Bouldin, showed little or no rust. He played 28 minutes, made 4 of 8 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, and showed poise beyond his 18 years.

“I really thought Steven needed some more practice reps,” head coach Mark Few said. “I just wanted him to be able to make a couple shots in practice. He hadn’t really made any in 5-on-5 and I didn’t want to throw him into a tough environment and have it be a negative, but obviously shooting comes naturally for him. He just has a great demeanor out there. I think he’s going to have a heck of a career.”

“He did a great job,” wing Micah Downs said of Gray. “Coming in and being strong and steady and aggressive, he helped us out a lot in the backcourt.”

Gray said he doesn’t have full range of motion in his right wrist, “but that’s just getting reps and I’m working with a couple of the guys getting my shots up and getting it back where it was.”

He looked comfortable playing point guard for several minutes.

“I was ready for that (because) I played a lot of point at the start of the year before I got hurt,” he said.

Gonzaga’s recruiting class, which also includes junior college transfer Ira Brown, was ranked No. 11 nationally by one scouting service.

Heytvelt, Bouldin update

Junior forward Josh Heytvelt (stress fracture) has been cleared to do a little more at practice, but he’s still probably doubtful for Thursday’s game against Oklahoma.

“He gets to go live (Tuesday) for a little bit against somebody else, but definitely not in a 5-on-5 situation,” Few said.

Of the possibility of Heytvelt playing against the Sooners, Few said, “I don’t think I’ll know until that day, but at this point he hasn’t done one thing against a live player.”

Bouldin, who suffered ankle and calf injuries in Friday’s practice, was hobbling as he left the locker room following Monday’s game.

“I pulled my calf and I went back in and played and it was all tight and I tweaked my ankle,” Bouldin said. “Hopefully, it’ll be good by Thursday and I can play some, at least a few minutes. I just couldn’t run on it (Monday).”

Bouldin sprained the same ankle in an exhibition game Nov. 7 but didn’t miss any games. “If it was one or the other (calf or ankle), I probably would have played (Monday),” said Bouldin, who played in all 34 games last season.

Point guard Jeremy Pargo downplayed his knee ailment. He hyperextended his knee in practice but played 30 minutes against the Bears.

“I didn’t do anything to my knee,” he said, smiling and winking. “I’m fine.”

Pargo shrugged off GU’s injury situation, but he is looking forward to seeing a healthy roster.

“Steven came back and played great,” Pargo said. “He’s going to be a factor coming down the stretch and I’m just excited for him. Josh will be back real soon and everything is going to click real well when these guys get back.”

Notes

Sophomore center Will Foster played a career-high 15 minutes Monday, finishing with three points, five rebounds, two blocks and a steal. He made 1 of 6 free throws. … Gonzaga’s shooting percentages in the last five games have been 37, 43, 26, 44 and 46. GU shot 53 percent or higher in four of its first six games. … Downs has scored in double figures in four straight games.