Recap and highlights: Drew Timme’s 37 points leads Gonzaga over Texas in battle of top five teams
Drew Timme scored a career-high 37 points and top-ranked Gonzaga beat No. 5 Texas 86-74 on Saturday in the McCarthy Athletic Center.
The fifth-ranked Longhorns are the highest-ranked opponents to ever step into the Kennel.
Timme’s 37 points are the third-most in the Kennel behind Ronny Turiaf’s 40 and Adam Morrison’s 42.
The Zags (2-0) are now 4-0 all-time against the Longhorns (1-1).
Rasir Bolton added 16 points with four made 3-pointers and Anton Watson had 10 to round out the double-digit scorers.
Andrew Nembhard had eight assists as the lead facilitator for the Zags.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 16-9 lead behind a perfect 5-for-5 shooting for Timme. Two minutes later and GU extended its lead to 10.
The rest of the first half was the Timme show as he had 22 points at intermission.
Midway through the second half is when Texas found its footing, drawing within 12 with a 14-4 run.
GU was shooting 33% from the floor as the Longhorns attempted to cut into the Bulldog lead.
But some big-time 3’s from Bolton and freshman Nolan Hickman reenergized the Zags offense and with 8 minutes left in the game, GU led 67-53.
Timmy Allen led Texas with 18 points, Marcus Carr had 11 and Jase Febres added 10.
The Zags shot 54% from the floor, while the Longhorns shot 44%.
GU is back in action on Monday, hosting Alcorn State at 6 p.m. on KHQ.
First half
14:02 - GU 16, Texas 9: Timme is a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor, including a few slick pick and roll’s with Nembhard. Timme has 11 points early on.
11:53 - GU 21, Texas 11: The Bulldogs have their largest lead of the game at the under-12 timeout. As a team, they are shooting a shade under 70% from the floor. Nembhard has three assists early in this one.
8:40 - GU 29, Texas 15: A menacing defense has forced three turnovers to help extend the Bulldog lead. GU meanwhile has no zero turnovers. Timme still perfect from the field with 13 points.
3:58 - GU 34, Texas 21: The Zags are keeping the Longhorns at arm length, holding a double-digit lead toward the end of the first half. Both teams are struggling from behind the arc as GU is 2-for-8 and Texas is 1-for-10.
Halftime
A buzzer-beating shot from Bolton gives the Bulldogs a 47-27 lead at the break.
But the story of the first half was the monster performance from Timme who has 22 points. He missed was 9-for-10 from the floor.
The Zags shot almost 60% from the floor and caused the Longhorns to turn the ball over seven times.
GU went on a 7-0 run to end the half.
Impact performance
Drew Timme has been dominating the post with 22 points on 9 of 10 shooting.
Second half
15:49 - GU 56, Texas 39: At the first media timeout, the Zags continue to feed Timme who has four points. He also dished out an assist to Holmgren who made his first bucket of the game.
10:45 - GU 60, Texas 48: Coach Mark Few calls a timeout here as the Longhorns are pushing back with a 14-4 run. Timmy Allen leads Texas with 14 points. The Zags are shooting 33% from the floor in the second half. Not much movement happening on the offensive end and too much reliance on Timme down low.
7:38 - GU 67, Texas 53: Bolton with six points on 2-of-2 shooting from behind the arc in the second half. Needed points as Texas was making a run. Bulldogs keeping a double-digit lead midway through the half.
7:14 - GU 69, Texas 53: Drew Timme has a new career high 32 points, breaking his previous record (30 points).
2:36 - GU 84, Texas 66: And just like that, the Bulldogs have an 18-point lead over the Longhorns. Two 3’s from Bolton and one from Hickman extend the Zags’ lead. Timme (37 points) is 5 points away from breaking the scoring record in the Kennel (42 by Adam Morrison).
Starting five
Gonzaga goes with the same starting five from the season opener with Nembhard, Bolton, Strawther, Timme and Holmgren. Texas starts Andrew Jones, Marcus Carr, Courtney Ramey, Timmy Allen and Christian Bishop.
Pregame
No. 1 Gonzaga hosts No. 5 Texas at the Kennel on ESPN2 at 7:30 p.m for the first meeting of top five teams in Spokane.
The Zags won their first game 97-63 over Dixie State, while the Longhorns beat Houston Baptist 92-48.
GU was lead by a dominating post performance by Chet Holmgren, who totaled 14 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and tied the school record for blocks with seven. Texas had six players score double figures in its win, led by Courtney Ramey’s 14 points on 4 of 5 shooting from three.
According to ESPN’s bracketology, GU is projected to be a No. 1 seed, while Texas secures a No. 2. The Longhorns were a No. 3 seed at last year’s NCAA Tournament, where they were bounced in the first round in a 53-52 loss to Abilene Christian.
Series history
Gonzaga is 3-0 all-time against Texas, last winning a 76-71 OT game in Portland on Nov. 26, 2017 in the PK80 Invitational tournament. Rui Hachimura came off the bench to lead the Zags with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Before that GU won 87-77 on Dec. 2, 2006 in the Basketball Hall of Fame Challenge in Phoenix, led by Derek Raivio’s 27 points on seven 3-pointers. All-time great Kevin Durant scored 29 points in the game.
The Zags’ also won the first meeting with the Longhorns 67-64 on Nov. 23, 2001 in Anchorage, Alaska, off of Dan Dickau’s go-ahead layup and free throws with less than a minute remaining.
Team stats
Individual leaders
Game preview
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