Recap and highlights: Rui Hachimura hits game-winning jumper to help top-ranked Gonzaga hold off Washington for 81-79 win

Rui Hachimura scored 26 points, including the game winner with under one second remaining to lift No. 1 Gonzaga over cross-state rival Washington 81-79 on Wednesday at the McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane.

The Huskies tied the game with nine seconds remaining on a pair of Jaylen Nowell free throws, but the Bulldogs (9-0) went right to Hachimura on the next possession and the junior forward hit a mid-range jumper for the win.

Nowell led the Huskies (6-3) with 26 points.

Zach Norvell Jr. added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Zags before fouling out near the end of the game.

Gonzaga will now travel to Phoenix for a neutral-site game against seventh-ranked Tennessee at noon on Sunday (ESPN).

Second half

Final – Gonzaga 81, Washington 79: Jalen Nowell nails both free throws to tie the game, but the Zags go right back to Rui Hachimura who drains the jumper from 12 feet to help Gonzaga hold on and remain unbeaten

0:09 – Gonzaga 79, Washington 77: Another UW make followed by a Gonzaga miss and the Huskies get to the foul line down two points.

Zach Norvell Jr. has fouled out for Gonzaga with 14 points.

1:08 – Gonzaga 79, Washington 75: Jaylen Nowell keeping the Huskies in this one as he’s up to 24 points.

Zags missing some good looks in the paint and UW is making it count on the other end.

Both Zach Norvell Jr. and Brandon Clarke with four fouls for Gonzaga.

2:20 – Gonzaga 77, Washington 71: Noah Dickerson also fouls out for the Huskies, meaning UW’s scoring output is down to the guards.

3:57 – Gonzaga 73, Washington 65: Pair of 3-pointers by Josh Perkins and Corey Kispert puts Gonzaga up by double figures.

Matisse Thybulle answers back from deep and he’s up to 16 points for the Huskies. UW still being led by Jaylen Nowell with 20 points.

Kispert the third GU player into double figures with 11 points, three boards and three assists.

Rui Hachimura stuck on 22 points at the moment for the Bulldogs.

Zags shooting 44.6 percent from the floor to GU’s 43.4 percent.

8:03 – Gonzaga 65, Washington 58: After a slower start to the game, Zach Norvell Jr. is coming to life for Gonzaga. The sophomore has 12 points for the Zags, the second player into double figures.

Josh Perkins again connects from way outside, he has six points, four rebounds and five assists.

First player to foul out on the night is UW big Hameir Wright. He finishes with five points and just one rebound.

Bulldogs keep pushing their lead to near double digits, with UW in foul trouble, the Zags are looking to extend that gap for good.

11:36 – Gonzaga 54, Washington 49: Foul trouble again really hurting the Huskies as Noah Dickerson picks up his fourth on an illegal screen.

Filip Petrusev having a nice game for the Zags. The freshman big man has nine points and two rebounds. Rui Hachimura up to 22 points and seven rebounds for the Zags.

Nice recovery there from the Zags after a rough six-minute stretch to start the half.

15:54 – Washington 45, Gonzaga 42: Jaylen Nowell is felling it right now for the Huskies. He’s left wide-open in the corner and drains the triple to put UW ahead for the first time tonight.

He’s up to 16 points.

16:30 – Gonzaga 42, Washington 42: Quick start to the second half for the Huskies as UW uses a 12-2 run out of the break.

Huskies zone defense causing GU some trouble on offense.

Matisse Thybulle has 11 points and Jaylen Nowell with 13 points for the Huskies.

Nowell completes the gap closure with a 3-pointer to tie the game.

First half

Halftime – Gonzaga 40, Washington 30: Huskies go on a 10-2 run over a three-minute stretch, but a pair of Filip Petrusev layups and a Corey Kispert triple gives GU a little more breathing room.

Matisse Thybulle hits his second 3-pointer of the game to get to nine points. Jaylen Nowell leads UW with 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting.

Rui Hachimura leading all players with 18 points while playing all 20 minutes of the half. He also has four rebounds and no turnovers.

Zags shoot 41.9 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from deep in the half, while UW is shooting 39.3 percent overall and 28.6 percent from 3-point range.

Gonzaga outrebounding the Huskies 19-17 and has dished out nine assists to UW’s five. GU also with only three turnovers to UW’s eight.

Bulldogs dominating in points off turnovers (11-1) and fast-break points (5-0).

Foul trouble for UW’s Hameir Wright (3) and Sam Timmins (3). Several players on both teams with two fouls.

3:37 – Gonzaga 31, Washington 22: Bulldogs come out of the media timeout in a 2-1-2 press, something they’ve shown at times out of breaks this season.

UW’s Matisse Thybulle gets a running layup and is fouled to stop a 15-3 GU run. Zags again have an answer though as Corey Kispert hits a 3-pointer for his first points of the game.

Rui Hachimura dominating this half. He has 16 points and is 6 for 6 from the free-throw line.

Second foul of the game called on GU’s Brandon Clarke, but he’s had more of a quiet start to this one than in recent games.

Jaylen Nowell leads the Huskies with eight points.

7:53 – Gonzaga 22, Washington 12: Jeremy Jones and Filip Petrusev the first off the bench for Gonzaga, but the freshman big man is quickly replaced by Brandon Clarke after a quick break.

Rui Hachimura the first player from either team into double figures scoring. Nice stat line early on for the junior with 10 points on 4 of 8 shooting and four rebounds.

Another big call goes Gonzaga’s way as Noah Dickerson is whistled for a block – his second foul of the game. He’s out for about 15 seconds before checking back in. He also has four turnovers

Zags shooting a hair over 41 percent from the field, while holding UW to 29 percent from the floor. Huskies also just 1 of 7 from deep (14.3 percent).

11:50 – Gonzaga 16, Washington 9: First 3-pointer of the game comes from UW’s Dominic Green. GU’s Josh Perkins answers back with a 25-footer of his own as the scoring has started to get going in the Kennel.

Rui Hachimura up to eight points for the Zags.

Huskies digging themselves into early foul (6) and turnover (6) trouble, while the Zags are keeping it clean on both fronts (1 foul, 2 turnovers).

Brandon Clarke also has two steals and Zach Norvell Jr. has three assists for the Bulldogs.

16:11 – Gonzaga 4, Washington 4: Chilly start from the floor in the opening minutes for both teams as the defenses are proving tough to crack. UW opens in a 3-2 zone, forcing the Gonzaga forward duo of Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke into some decisions in the key.

This will be the toughest inside test for the Zags this season since Duke as the UW forward combo of Hameir Wright and Noah Dickerson are a lot to handle.

Early foul trouble hurts the Huskies as David Crisp picks up his second foul and heads to the bench.

Zags just 1 for 6 from the floor early on with Clarke and Hachimura each scoring two points.

Huskies 2 for 5 from the floor and both teams have yet to his from 3-point range. Three turnovers for the Huskies early on as well.

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Pregame

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Gonzaga roster

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Washington roster

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