Gonzaga-San Francisco: 3 keys from the Bulldogs’ 96-83 victory over the Dons

Key moment

Zach Norvell Jr. wasn’t having a particularly strong second half. He missed his first six shots, but the sophomore wing, who has demonstrated he can shake off cold stretches throughout his career, buried a 3-pointer to give Gonzaga an 84-81 lead with 3:36 left. Geno Crandall followed with a clutch 3 as the Zags dominated the final minutes.

Offensive MVP

Josh Perkins scored all 16 of his points in the second half. He delivered seven straight points late during a stretch when the lead went back-and-forth. He added a pair of free throws with 1 minute left to boost Gonzaga’s lead to 10. The senior point guard added four assists and just one turnover in 35 minutes.

Defensive MVP

Crandall didn’t play a ton of minutes (16), but the senior guard was a pest on defense and did a nice job on USF’s Frankie Ferrari down the stretch. Crandall made Ferrari work in the backcourt bringing the ball up, slowing the Dons’ efficient offense. Ferrari still scored his points, but it required hitting tough shots on several of his field goals.