No. 3 Gonzaga welcomes Lengthy Seaside State to Spokane, Wash., on Wednesday for a tuneup earlier than they head for the Bahamas and a three-day run on the Battle 4 Atlantis.
The Bulldogs (4-0) scored a season-low 80 factors to deal San Diego State solely its fourth double-digit house loss underneath coach Brian Dutcher on Monday behind 23 factors in 20 minutes from Graham Ike and 19 from Ryan Nembhard. The seniors scored 30 of Gonzaga’s 40 factors within the second half, hanging one other high quality wins pelt on the wall and constructing a resume worthy of a No. 1 NCAA Match seed.
The Bulldogs survived SDSU’s smothering protection however made only one of 9 second-half 3-point tries. Nembhard, Michael Ajayi, Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle mixed to shoot 2 of 14 from 3-point vary.
Head coach Mark Few credited Nembhard, who had 10 assists and three turnovers, for conserving Gonzaga heading in the right direction in opposition to a bodily protection within the first highway recreation of the season. Gonzaga helped itself by making 27 of 31 foul pictures; Ike and Nembhard made a mixed 17 of 19.
Nembhard has an assist-to-turnover ratio of 8-1 with 40 assists and 5 turnovers, a gradual and constant calm Few will lean into much more as Gonzaga packs for Nassau and its opening recreation in opposition to West Virginia on the eve of Thanksgiving.
“He managed that complete recreation for 40 minutes. I do not suppose anyone is taking part in higher within the nation than him on the level spot,” Few mentioned. “On this surroundings, in opposition to that protection, that form of physicality and the issue speaking … he was completely large.”
Earlier than they head for a event vacation on the seaside, Gonzaga prepares for Lengthy Seaside State with the Dirtbags recent off one other shut loss.
The Seaside dropped to 1-3 in a 63-61 loss to Portland on Saturday, trimming an eight-point deficit within the ultimate 3:26. Devin Askew’s tried game-winner did not fall. The defeat got here six days after a heartbreaking loss to South Dakota State, which drained a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds left in an 80-79 victory.
First-year coach Chris Acker has 12 newcomers on his roster after the 2023-24 season ended with Lengthy Seaside State (1-3) parting with former Gonzaga coach Dan Monson just for The Seaside to make a run to the NCAA Match by successful the Huge West convention event.
Acker mentioned he is aware of the “true rebuild” can take time with lower than 5 p.c of the staff’s scoring, rebounding and minutes performed again from final 12 months’s roster.
Askew is a headliner. He is averaging 17.3 factors, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds within the first 4 video games of the season.
The senior has 82 complete video games underneath his belt. He began 20 video games at Kentucky as a freshman in 2020-21, bouncing to Texas for one season after which logging two years at Cal. He has battled accidents over his profession but additionally is aware of the sensation of strolling into unfriendly environs just like the one which awaits Wednesday night time at McCarthey Athletic Middle.
“He is competed on the highest stage, so he is aware of what that should appear like,” Acker mentioned.
Lengthy Seaside State has misplaced three consecutive video games since defeating La Verne 93-48 within the season opener.
–Subject Stage Media
