All the way back
STANFORD, Calif. – Gonzaga coach Mark Few met Jeremy Pargo outside the locker room following the sophomore guard’s television interview Wednesday night and gave him the kind of hug normally reserved for immediate family members.
But then Pargo, GU’s nervy sophomore point guard, had just deeply endeared himself to Few by putting the Bulldogs on his young, but broad, shoulders – especially in the late going – and courageously leading them to a wildly entertaining 90-86 double-overtime road win over 23rd-ranked Stanford.
“Unbelivable,” Few whispered in Pargo’s ear. “That was big time – really big time.”
Pargo just smiled, obviously comfortable with the attention and satisfied with his effort, which included a game- and career-high 23 points – 11 of which came in the second overtime – seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
The stirring victory, which left a Maples Pavilion crowd of 7,178 breathless, might go down as one of the most important of the year for the Zags (16-7), who overcame an early 19-5 deficit, a hostile environment and some crazy late-game shooting by Stanford’s Anthony Goods to spill the Cardinal (14-6) just three nights after they had stunned Pacific-10 Conference rivals and No. 3-ranked UCLA.
“It was a great win against a great program in a very, very difficult environment,” Few said after watching his young team post its fourth win over a nationally ranked opponent and even its road record at 3-3. “Stanford is playing better than anybody out West right now, and to come in here and get this done on the road says a lot about our team and how much we’ve grown.”
Along with Pargo’s splendid play, Gonzaga got 21 points from senior guard Derek Raivio, a career-high 14 points from junior forward David Pendergraft and a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double – the fifth of his career – from sophomore forward Josh Heytvelt, who fouled out midway through the last overtime.
“It was a huge win,” said Pargo, who started the second extra period by scoring on two difficult drives that he finished against Stanford’s massive frontline – one of which turned into a three-point play. “There’s been a lot of talk that we’re not a good road team, and to be honest, we haven’t shown we are a good road team.
“But I think this helps show that we can play on the road, at home or wherever we’re at.”
Stanford got 22 points from Lawrence Hill, 20 from 7-footer Brook Lopez and 16 from Goods, who threw in three deep, off-balance and tightly guarded 3-pointers in the final 31 seconds of the last overtime to keep the small contingent of GU fans in attendance on edge until the final ticks of the clock.
Cardinal coach Trent Johnson was pleased with his team’s effort, but admitted they had no answer for Pargo, who made 7 of 13 shots from the field and 9 of 13 free throws.
“We had a guy have a career game against us,” Johnson said. “Pargo had a career game – the best of his career – and that’s what beat us.”
The two teams finished regulation play tied at 59 after the Zags overcame a horrible start that saw them make only two of their first 13 shots and struggle through a prolonged scoring drought that lasted almost seven minutes. But GU had a great chance to win in the first extra period, only to watch their 67-64 lead get wiped out by the first of Goods’ four overtime 3-pointers, which he launched from 30 feet out over the outstretched arm of Pendergraft.
But after that, Pargo took over, breaking down Stanford’s perimeter defense with his dribble penetration, getting the basket and setting up his teammates.
“I just took what was open,” Pargo said. “They left the lanes open and, fortunately, I was able to get through them.”
When asked if he thought his quickness was the deciding factor, Pargo added, “I have no clue. I was just out there playing. I wasn’t thinking about, ‘I’m quicker than this guy’ or ‘I’m quicker than this guy.’
“I just saw the opening and took it.”