Day after EWU

Back with the day-after post following Gonzaga’s 86-57 rout over Eastern Washington. Here’s my game story . Couldn’t find an S-R photo gallery on our site, other than this picture of Sacre blocking a shot.

Also, here is a Chicago Tribune game story and another from the Sun-Times on Illinois’ impressive win over North Carolina on Tuesday. GU takes on No. 20 Illinois in Seattle on Saturday.

Read on.

—It’s another day of hand-wringing for the Zags as Elias Harris undergoes a second MRI on his bothersome Achilles in the last two weeks. Harris was not a happy camper as he exited the locker room, clearly frustrated by missing the EWU game.

“After Monday (game vs. Kansas State) and Tuesday (game vs. Marquette), I don’t know … maybe after the long plane ride and two days of doing nothing, it’s like there’s pressure and it got a lot tighter again,” Harris said. “It feels different, a different kind of pain.”

—GU put on a shooting clinic most of the game as EWU stayed in its 2-3 zone. The Zags finished 11 of 16 on 3s, led by Steven Gray’s 6 of 8. Mathis Mönninghoff was 3 of 3 behind the arc.

“Obviously it makes the game a lot easier when the shots are going in,” coach Mark Few said. “Steve was hot and feeling it and Mönninghoff banged in a couple there. We did a nice job finding the hot hand.”

Mönninghoff is now 10 of 15 on 3s (66.7 percent) for the season, Gray is 21 of 46 (45.7 percent).

As a team, GU is 43 of 104 (41.3 percent). Against three overmatched opponents (Southern, IUPUI and EWU) the Bulldogs are 29 of 56 (51.8 percent). Against the three best teams they’ve faced thus far ( San Diego State , Kansas State and Marquette ), GU is 14 of 48 (29.1 percent).

“When Eastern plays zone, sure we would shoot some 3s,” Mönninghoff said. “Nobody knows if they’ll fall or not, you just focus on the shot and they will fall. Great job from Steven.”

—I have no stats to back this up, but having covered Ray Giacoletti’s teams at Eastern Washington and the emphasis he put on drawing charging fouls, it sure seems as if the Bulldogs are drawing a lot of charging fouls and have done so for the last few seasons. I counted at least four last night (drawn by Manny Arop, Kelly Olynyk, Rob Sacre and Mike Hart). I suspect Goodson is the team leader in drawing charges.

“We were in the right place most of the time,” Few said. “We had some time to prepare for EWU. They kind of want to spread you out and use their quickness and we did a nice job of getting in the gaps.”

—EWU snagged 16 offensive rebounds, but many were long after the issue had been decided. Plus, when you miss 41 shots there’s no shortage of rebounding opportunities. The Eagles had 11 offensive boards in the second half, which generated 11 of their 37 points. Overall, EWU had a 13-1 edge in second-chance points.

—Goodson’s older brother, Mike, is starting at running back for the Carolina Panthers, who visit the Seahawks on Sunday, a day after the GU-Illinois Battle in Seattle . Mike Goodson has three straight 100-yard games. Goodson hopes to stay over to watch his brother play but has to clear it with Few.

STATS OF NOTE

—Gonzaga is back on the plus side of the ledger regarding assists vs. turnovers. With 22 assists last night, GU has 95 on the season. With 16 turnovers, the Zags now have 92 for the season.

—EWU missed its first six free throw attempts and finished 7 of 18 (38.9 percent). Gonzaga was 9 of 14 at the stripe.

—GU’s bench outscored the depleted Eagles’ reserves 39-10. EWU suited up eight players.

—The Zags had a season-high 14 steals, led by David Stockton’s three. Gray had two steals, giving him 17 on the season.

—Sacre’s three blocked shots gives him 83 for his career, two behind No. 7 Cory Violette on GU’s all-time list.

—All seven of Sacre’s rebounds were on the defensive end. He came into the game with 20 offensive boards and 13 defensive rebounds.

—Goodson’s six assists equaled his career-high (he had six vs. IUPUI).

—Olynyk’s nine boards tied his career high.

QUOTES

Goodson: “The first group did a really good job of coming out and playing some really good defense and getting the game up and down.”

Earlywine on EWU defensive breakdowns in first half: “Four of the nine (GU 3-pointers) in the first half I think we can take care of.”

Mönninghoff on allowing 16 offensive boards: “We have to improve on that.”

Goodson on GU’s shooting: “The 3s stretch the defense out a little more, it opens up the inside for Rob to do work in there. Once we start hitting 3s we’re a tough team to stop.”

Goodson, a Houston native, on the snow: “This is ridiculous, I don’t even want to walk to class. Is it still snowing out there?”