Difference makers: Joel Ayayi’s double-double lifts Gonzaga to 30-point win over Northern Arizona
Dec. 28, 2020 Updated Mon., Dec. 28, 2020 at 10:06 p.m.
Joel Ayayi
Ayayi was aggressive from the opening tip. He scored the game’s first five points and connected on three of his four 3-pointers in the first half. The junior guard had 14 points and nine rebounds as the Zags built a 28-point lead at halftime. He finished with 17 points and 10 boards in just 20 minutes.
Andrew Nembhard
Starting in place of Jalen Suggs (leg injury), Nembhard had a pair of 3-pointers, 10 points and three assists in the opening half. He finished with 10 points, seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. Nembhard also did a nice job defensively on NAU’s top scorer Cameron Shelton.
Turning point
For the second straight game, it was basically the opening tip. Gonzaga led 10-0 before NAU cracked the scoreboard. It was 17-2 after Drew Timme’s putback and 24-5 after Corey Kispert’s layup. Gonzaga led by as many as 38 points.
Gonzaga’s Joel Ayayi battles against Northern Arizona’s Carson Towt (33) in the first half of play in McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington Monday, Dec. 28, 2020. Ayayi put up 17 points for the night and didn’t play in the second half and the Bulldogs beat Northern Arizon 88-58. (Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
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