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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke, Rui Hachimura named to West Region all-tournament team, Texas Tech’s Jarrett Culver Most Outstanding Player

Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Rui Hachimura (21) guards Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jarrett Culver (23) during the second half of an NCAA Elite Eight basketball game on Saturday, March 30, 2019, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
By Justin Reed The Spokesman-Review

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The winning team out of the NCAA Tournament’s West Region was also home to the Most Outstanding Player. Jarrett Culver averaged 20.5 points with 4.5 rebounds to lead the Texas Tech to its first Final Four in school history.

Culver – likely a lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft – bullied his way to 19 points against Gonzaga in the Elite Eight matchup.

The Bulldogs held Culver to seven points in the first half but couldn’t keep him contained in the second half. He was a constant threat to score whenever he touched the ball and commanded a focused defensive effort.

Teammate Matt Mooney was also on the all-tournament team after averaging 18.5 points with 3.5 assists.

Mooney was a troublesome player on defense, hounding Josh Perkins and the other GU guards for most of the game. He had five steals in two games here.

Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke were Gonzaga’s representatives on the team.

Hachimura averaged 19.5 points a game, scoring a game-high 22 in the Elite Eight.

Clarke averaged a double-double of 16.5 points and 12 rebounds in the two games.

Florida State’s Trent Forrest rounded out the team. The guard scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds in the Seminoles’ Sweet 16 loss to Gonzaga on Thursday.