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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga expecting strong fan turnout for NCAA Tournament opener against UNC Greensboro

Gonzaga fan Taylor Schwindt cheers on the Zags in his Adam Morrison jersey during practice on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga fan Taylor Schwindt cheers on the Zags in his Adam Morrison jersey during practice on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

BOISE – Gonzaga figures to have strong support in the stands at Taco Bell Arena, but junior point guard Josh Perkins made a quick pitch to sway any undecided fans.

“Spokane is a lot closer than UNCG, so please cheer for us,” said Perkins, drawing chuckles from the media. “And coach (Mark) Few is good friends with coach (Leon) Rice. That helps, too.”

Rice was Few’s top assistant before taking the Boise State job eight years ago. Rice has guided the Broncos to two NCAA Tournament appearances. His current team faced Washington on Wednesday in the opening round of the NIT.

The Zags’ initial allotment of 500 tickets “went right away,” athletic director Mike Roth said courtside during Gonzaga’s practice Wednesday.

“But our fans have learned (how to obtain tickets), as we’ve seen over the years at the West Coast Conference Tournament (in Las Vegas) and at times in the NCAAs when we’ve been in Seattle and in Portland when it’s very drivable,” Roth added. “I have to believe it’ll be Zag nation in here.”