Recap and highlights: No. 9 Gonzaga uses depth to run away from Washington State 86-65
PULLMAN – Gonzaga’s season took an unfortunate turn earlier this week when Braden Huff went down in practice with a left knee injury that could sideline the junior forward four to eight weeks.
The news could have long-term effects on Gonzaga’s ceiling this season, but it didn’t impact the ninth-ranked Zags on the court Thursday night. Mark Few’s team pulled away from Washington State late in the first half and continued to grow the lead in the second, beating the Cougars 86-65 at Beasley Coliseum.
With Huff sitting at the end of the visitor’s bench in a black team-issued sweatsuit, the Gonzaga predictably turned to the other player on Few’s roster averaging 17.8 points per game.
Coming off a career-high 34-point outing and his third West Coast Conference Player of the Week honor, Graham Ike scored 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for his league-leading 11th double-double.
Ike was effective down low battling with WSU’s ND Okafor and capitalized when the 6-10 forward went to the bench with his fifth foul midway through the second half. Ike finished 11 of 15 from the field and also delivered five assists.
Senior wing Jalen Warley replaced Huff as Gonzaga rolled out its ninth different starting lineup of the season. Warley had all 11 of his points by halftime, registered each of his three steals inside the first five minutes and also had five blocks.
Making his second straight start, senior guard Adam Miller scored 13 points, connecting on 3 of 6 shots from the 3-point line.
Five other players scored between five and nine points for Gonzaga, which led by as many as 24 points late in the second half.
WSU scored the game’s first five points, but Gonzaga’s response came in the form of an 15-0 run. Simon Hildebrandt sparked another run for the Cougars, knocking down three straight 3-pointers to eclipse his previous season-high of eight points in a span of just 55 seconds.
More than half of WSU’s first-half possessions either resulted in turnovers or made 3’s. The Cougars knocked down 8 of their first 11 shots from distance, but were undone by 10 turnovers, with five of those coming inside the first seven minutes of the first half.
A two-game road swing in the state of Washington continues for Gonzaga (18-1, 6-0) with Saturday’s 7 p.m. (KHQ/ESPN+) game against Seattle U (13-6, 2-4) at Climate Pledge Arena. The Zags erased a double-digit deficit in the second half to prevail in overtime, 80-72, when the teams met earlier this month.
First half
18:53 – WSU 2, GU 0: Cougars win the tip and the two teams trade misses until Morton gives WSU the first lead with a jumper. We’re underway in Pullman.
14:59 – GU 11, WSU 5: Gonzaga on an 11-0 run as WSU calls a timeout. The best five minutes of Warley’s Zags career as he has four points, an offensive rebound, an assist, three steals and a block already.
Zags started slow shooting, but took advantage of WSU’s turnovers.
11:17 – GU 15, WSU 14: Zags were fully in control with a 15-0 run, but WSU’s Hildebrandt steps up and knocks down three straight 3-pointers for a 9-0 run. GU calls timeout.
7:49 – WSU 22, GU 21: Okafor called for his third foul and the Zags will shoot free throws after the U8 media timeout.
Cougars have retaken the lead with excellent 3-point shooting, now 6-for-9 from deep. WSU has hit its last six field goal attempts.
3:39 – GU 30, WSU 30: Miller called for a foul at the U4 media timeout. Back-and-forth action as the Cougars’ offensive possessions seem to end with either a made 3-pointer or a turnover.
Glass and Hildebrant lead WSU with nine points apiece, while Warley leads GU with six.
Halftime
Gonzaga closed the half on a 13-3 run in the last two minutes to lead Washington State 43-33 at halftime at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman.
The Bulldogs needed a spark after it was announced Braden Huff will miss 4-8 weeks with a knee injury. So far that has come from Jalen Warley, who has been all over the court with 11 points, three rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks.
GU weathered a barrage of 3-pointers from the Cougars, who hit 8 of 15 attempts from deep.
Graham Ike adds 10 points for the Zags, who have had already had nine players score.
Simon Hildebrandt leads WSU with 12 points. He hit three consecutive 3-pointers to swing momentum after the Zags took an early lead.
Second half
19:22 – GU 43, WSU 33: Okafor quickly picks up his fourth foul with a hard slam on Ike trying to get into position in the post. Bad news for the Cougars, as their leading big heads to the bench.
15:41 – GU 53, WSU 40: Morton cuts into the Zags lead with a 3-pointer and the Cougars call timeout.
Zags still in control to start the half as Ike is up to 16 points and seven rebounds. Cougars trying to counter, but are 2 of 7 from the field since halftime.
11:26 – GU 63, WSU 44: Fogle is called for a foul at the U12 media timeout, but it’s been all Zags in the second half.
GU’s depth is too much for WSU, even without Huff. Ike leads with 18 points, Warley (11) and Miller (10) join him in double figures.
7:41 – GU 70, WSU 53: Hildebrant converted a four-point play to shake the Cougars out of a lull, but it looks to be too little too late.
Saint-Supery is fouled by Ugbo at the U8 media timeout and it will be GU ball. Okafor fouled out after playing just 11 minutes and was held scoreless.
3:44 – GU 80, WSU 56: Miller hits a 3-pointer and Warley is called for his fourth foul on the other end at the U4 media timeout.
Zags have really run away with this one in the second half. WSU has not make a field goal in five minutes.
Ike leads with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Zags flexed their depth with Huff sidelined. We’ll be back with a full recap at the buzzer.
Starting 5’s
• Gonzaga: Braden Smith, Jalen Aarley, Adam Miller, Emmanuel Innocenti and Graham Ike.
A new-look lineup for the Zags, who will have to find the best five without Braden Huff for the foreseeable future.
• Washington State: Jerone Morton, Ace Glass, Emmanuel Ugbo, Eemeli Yalaho and ND Okafor.
Braden Huff sidelined for 4-8 weeks
Gonzaga suffered a major blow before tonight’s game against Washington State. Braden Huff, who is tied as the team’s leading scorer, will miss 4-8 weeks with a left knee injury suffered during practice.
That would sideline Huff until at least mid-February and possibly keep him out until the NCAA Tournament.
Follow along with this thread for updates throughout the evening.
Pregame
The Gonzaga and Washington State men’s basketball teams will continue their renewed rivalry as conference foes on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs will look to make it eight straight wins over the Cougars when the two teams tip off at 7 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.
The Zags (17-1, 5-0 West Coast) swept two games against the Cougars (8-10, 3-2) last year – their first as conference opponents, which will persist into the new Pac-12 next season. Gonzaga has not lost to WSU since 2010 and won 14 of 17 matchups since 2000.
The Cougars have been improved in recent weeks after a rough start to the season, which included losses to Idaho, Bradley and Davidson. WSU lost to Saint Mary’s on Saturday 88-82, the only other unbeaten team in the WCC.
The Zags turned away Santa Clara 89-77 last Thursday in their only game of the week.
The Cougars will lean on breakout freshman Ace Glass (15.9 ppg) and center ND Okafor (10.1 ppg) to try and pull off the upset.
Gonzaga is favored by 17½ points per vegasinsider.com.
Game preview
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