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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga-Santa Clara: 3 keys to the Bulldogs’ 101-52 victory

Gonzaga guard Silas Melson fires a 3-pointer on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

Key moment

This one was over shortly after the opening tip as Gonzaga scored the first 15 points. Josh Perkins opened with a pair of 3-pointers and then fed Johnathan Williams for a dunk. Zach Norvell Jr. scored the next four points and Silas Melson capped the opening flurry with a 3-pointer.

Offensive player of the game

Zach Norvell Jr. again showed off his scoring touch – he had 12 points in 12 first-half minutes – and his playmaking ability with eight assists. Norvell had just one basket in the second half as the Zags substituted liberally with the outcome long decided.

Defensive player of the game

Silas Melson, who was also a strong candidate for offensive player of the game, slowed down KJ Feagin, the WCC’s second-leading scorer. Feagin, who averages 18.7 points, scored just six points in the opening half and committed two of SCU’s 10 first-half turnovers. He finished with nine points.