Updates: No. 7 Gonzaga holds big halftime lead over Santa Clara as Killian Tillie, Geno Crandall return to action

Follow along for updates and analysis as the Gonzaga Bulldogs host the Santa Clara Broncos at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane. Tip is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST. You can watch the game on KHQ in the Spokane area and on ROOT Sports around the Northwest.

First half

Halftime – Gonzaga 50, Santa Clara 27: Great first half from Rui Hachimura has the Bulldogs up big on the Broncos.

The junior forward has 18 points and is a perfect 8 for 8 from the free-throw line to lead Gonzaga.

Brandon Clarke has added 13 points and five rebounds for the Zags, who are outrebounding SCU 20-15.

Zags shoot 56.7 percent from the floor and 20 percent from 3-point range in the first 20 minutes, while holding SCU to 35.7 percent overall and 27.3 percent from deep.

Zags have forced SCU into 10 turnovers, while GU has just three. Zags also dominating in the paint (28-14).

Highlight of the half for GU fans was the return of Killians Tillie – who had yet to play this season – and Geno Crandall from injury. Tillie has five points on 2 of 3 shooting, while Crandall has two points.

1:53 – Gonzaga 47, Santa Clara 27: Bulldogs just having fun now as Josh Perkins throws down a no-doubt dunk, followed by an off-the-backboard Perkins to Brandon Clarke slam.

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Clarke up to 13 points to go with his four rebounds.

Blink of an eye and the Zags are up 20 against SCU – which has been the case much of the last month for GU’s opponents.

GU up to 59.3 percent from the floor, while holding the Broncos to an even 40 percent.

7:39 – Gonzaga 33, Santa Clara 14: There’s the first bucket of the season for Killian Tillie. The big man got his hand in the SCU passing lane and finished the steal with a nice 1-on-1 layup.

Geno Crandall follows with a steal of his own. The Zags have forced seven Broncos turnovers.

The Bulldogs have once again been dominant since the opening tip. Zags opened as a 26-point favorite against the Broncos.

Rui Hachimura with 18 points on 5 of 8 shooting to lead GU. Josip Vrankic is pacing the Broncos with five points.

Best game of the season so far for Rui.

GU also gets its first 3-poointer to fall as Corey Kispert his the triple in transition.

11:09 – Gonzaga 22, Santa Clara 10: A couple of fresh faces draw big cheers from the Kennel crowd as Geno Crandall and Killian Tillie check in together after the first media break.

Crandall with a nifty take to the bucket for his first points of the game, while Tillie has missed his only shot so far.

Rui Hachimura still dominating inside for the Zags. He’s up to 12 points and has a pait of board.

Zags shooting 58.3 percent from the floor, but are 0 for 3 from deep. Santa Clara hitting just 33 percent overall, but have a pair of 3-pointers.

Points in the paint are again in GU’s favor – 14-4 in the first nine minutes.

16:19 – Gonzaga 9, Santa Clara 2: Gonzaga brings the defensive pressure out of the gate against the Broncos, trapping after a pair of made free throws from Zach Norvell Jr.

Brandon Clarke also gets his first block of the night with a massive swat on the first SCU possession.

Rui Hachimura up to eight points quickly for the Zags. The junior forward also appears to be sporting a fresh haircut for the start of the West Coast Conference season.

GU fans patiently waiting for the enterance of both Geno Crandall and Killian Tillie, who are expected to see the court tonight – Tillie for the first time this season.

Gonzaga announces starting five

Pregame

Game preview

Gonzaga roster

LEADERS

Santa Clara roster

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