Recap and highlights: Gonzaga finishes strong for 73-53 win over Loyola Marymount
It might have been a sign when Gonzaga went 5 minutes, 29 seconds without scoring midway through the first half. Or when the Bulldogs withstood another extended offensive drought – this one lasting exactly 5 minutes toward the later stages of the first half.
From the early stages, it seemed evident Gonzaga wouldn’t be shattering any McCarthey Athletic Center scoring records on Thursday, but the Bulldogs were able to iron out their offensive issues in a way Loyola Marymount never did, allowing the hosts to ultimately pull away for a 73-53 win.
The final numbers weren’t glowing for a Gonzaga team that entered the week second nationally in scoring offense at 88.2 points per game, but the Bulldogs managed to author an impressive turnaround in the second half after posting a season-low 27 points through the first 20 minutes.
Gonzaga made 2 of 18 (11%) shots from the 3-point line, but found other sources of offense in a second half that saw the Bulldogs rip off a 22-2 run and lead by as many as 19 points after trailing at the 11-minute, 31-second mark.
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Khalif Battle, who had 25 points over GU’s last four games – 23 of those coming in a 98-60 win over Oregon State – was able to get to the free throw line at will much of the night, scoring a team-high 24 points after going 15 of 16 from the charity stripe.
Ryan Nembhard had 15 points, nine assists and four rebounds, Braden Huff finished with 14 points and eight rebounds and Graham Ike scored eight points and 10 rebounds in 21 minutes.
Gonzaga kept the clamps on LMU in the second half after the Lions withstood a 7-minute, 22-second scoring drought in the first half, failing to hit a shot from the field for 9 minutes, 54 seconds.
The Lions finished 19 of 55 from the field and 4 of 22 from the 3-point line, committing nine of their 11 turnovers in the first half. Senior transfer Caleb Stone-Carrawell had a team-high 20 points on 7 of 17 from the field and 3 of 7 from the 3-point line.
Gonzaga (17-7, 8-3) faces a short turnaround before visiting Pacific (7-18, 2-9) for a 5 p.m. tipoff Saturday at the Spanos Center in Stockton.
First half
19:00 – GU 2, LMU 0: Lions win the tip, but some good defense from the Zags forces a shot clock violation and Gregg makes a layup on the other end. We’re underway at the Kennel.
16:32 – GU 12, LMU 5: Ike gets free on a pick-and-roll for a dunk and the Lions call a timeout. Zags have scored on all six possessions to start the game.
Ike leads with six points, Nembhard has two points and two assists.
15:37 – GU 12, LMU 5: Battle misses the Zags first shot, but a sixth LMU turnover gives GU the ball back at the first media timeout. Lions 2 of 2 from the field, but not getting shots up under pressure from the Zags.
11:47 – GU 12, LMU 7: Lions commit their eighth turnover at the U12 media timeout. Zags on a 4:46 scoring drought, have missed their last seven attempts from the field. Battle 0 of 3 on 3-pointers.
10:26 – GU 16, LMU 7: Nembhard hits an elbow jumper to snap the scoring drought. Huff grabs his fourth offensive rebound and puts it back on the next possession and LMU calls another timeout.
Lions have only taken five shots.
7:35 – GU 19, LMU 9: Lions snap a scoring drought that was approaching eight minutes with a layup from Amey Jr. at the U8 media timeout.
Zags offense struggling since a hot start, 8 of 20 from the field and 0 of 7 on 3-pointers. Nembhard and Ike lead with six points apiece.
LMU 3 of 11 from the field, 1 of 7 on 3s and eight turnovers.
3:32 – GU 19, LMU 17: Gregg blocked by Porter, McBride makes a layup on the other end and the Zags call a timeout with LMU on a 10-0 run.
After scoring on their first six possessions, this has turned into a real clunker for the Zags offense. Just 8 of 26 from the field and 0 of 8 on 3-pointers. GU on a 4:30 scoring drought and hit one of their last nine attempts.
Halftime
Khalif Battle heated up at the end of the first half to give Gonzaga a 27-24 lead over Loyola Marymount in an ugly offensive game at McCarthey Athletic Center.
Battle leads GU with eight points, he got things going late, but was called for a technical foul and went to the bench. Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard add six points apiece.
The Zags scored on their first six possessions and went downhill from there. They are shooting 33% from the field and are 1 of 11 on 3-pointers. Battle had a two changed to a three at halftime.
The Lions struggled early and briefly took the lead after going down double figures. Caleb Stone-Carrawell leads with 10 points. LMU shooting 38% from the field, 2 of 13 on 3s and have nine turnovers.
Second half
15:05 – GU 39, LMU 35: Lions briefly took the lead, but Nembhard answered with a layup and Ike put the Zags back in front with a nice move in the post. Gregg gives the Zags a 6-0 run with a layup, before Ike is called for a foul at the U16 media timeout. LMU will shoot free throws when play resumes.
11:31 – GU 43, LMU 42: Free throws coming for the Lions on the other end of the U12 media timeout with a chance to take the lead. Stone-Carrawell hit a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to one point, he has a team-high 18.
8:20 – GU 54, LMU 46: Battle finishes a reverse ally-oop layup in transition to give the Zags a 9-0 run and the Lions call timeout.
Crucial few minutes for Gonzaga, which was staying alive from the free throw line. Battle leads with 18 points, making 11 of 12 free throws. Nembhard adds 10 points and six assists.
LMU on a 2:07 scoring drought has missed its last five attempts.
7:40 – GU 56, LMU 46: Nembhard called for a foul at the U8 media timeout, but before that had a nice feed to Ajayi for a layup in transition. Zags on an 11-0 run.
3:47 – GU 65, LMU 48: Nembhard gets a steal, slows play up the court and dishes to Huff inside to give the Zags a 20-2 run at the final media timeout.
All Bulldogs down the stretch, a welcome sight for a team that has struggled in close games. LMU has missed its last 11 attempts from the field.
Nembhard has 15 points and eight assists, Battle leads with 20 points, including 13 free throws.
0:00 – GU 73, LMU 53: Impressive stretch by the Zags to close this one out after struggling on offense for most of the night. We’ll be back shortly with a full recap.
Starting fives
Gonzaga starters: Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Khalif Battle, Ben Gregg, Graham Ike.
Battle back in the lineup after coming off the bench the last three games.
LMU starters: Will Johnston, Caleb Stone-Carrawell, Alex Merkviladze, Jevon Porter, Rick Issanza
Pregame
There aren’t as many gimmes for Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference these day.
And while the Zags blew out Loyola Marymount in there first meeting this season, the Lions enter tonight’s contest on a five-game winning streak. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at McCarthey Athletic Center on KHQ and ESPN+ outside of the region.
Gonzaga (16-7, 7-3 WCC) is coming off a 62-58 loss to Saint Mary’s on Saturday in Moraga, Calif., where the Zags came back from a 14-point deficit at halftime, only to falter down the stretch in what has become a trend this season.
LMU (14-8, 6-4) has wins over Santa Clara, San Diego (twice), Pacific and Portland since losing back-to-back games against Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s in early January.
Series history
Gonzaga has a 80-24 series lead over Loyola Marymount since 1949. LMU has won one meeting since 2010, a 68-67 victory at McCarthey Athletic Center on Jan. 19, 2023.
Team stats
Individual leaders
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