Zags’ D shuts down Zips
Back with my game story from GU's 77-64 win over Akron. The unedited version is below.
By
Staff writer
For nearly 30 minutes, fourth-seeded Gonzaga was confined to a slower pace and was locked in a plodding affair with No. 13 Akron. Then came a modest 7-0 spurt. Followed shortly thereafter by 13 straight points and a decisive 19-1 run.
Gonzaga didn’t let up, outscoring the Zips 31-6 on its way to 77-64 first-round NCAA men’s basketball tournament victory Thursday at the Rose Garden. The victory snapped GU’s two-year string of first-round NCAA exits and propelled the Bulldogs into a second-round date with No. 12 Western Kentucky at 5:10 p.m. Saturday.
When it was over, the 10th-ranked Bulldogs (27-5) were in unison pinpointing the cause of the turnaround.
“We just took care of our defense,” junior guard Matt Bouldin said. “We knew when we ratcheted it up we were going to get some easy buckets. We also didn’t think they could shoot like that the entire game. Some of those guys were knocking down all kinds of shots.
“Once we got more solid on defense, we pushed the ball and it really made the difference.”
The Bulldogs, who were second nationally in field-goal percentage defense during the season, gave up five 3s and were beaten on the dribble numerous times by the undersized Zips in the first half.
That all changed in the second half. The Zips (23-13) went nearly 13 minutes between field goals. They missed 13 straight shots from the floor and their only points during that stretch came on four free throws.
Meanwhile, those errant shots fueled Gonzaga’s transition game. The Bulldogs finished with a 14-0 edge in fast-break points.
“In the second half we were able to drive down their shooting percentage, which got our transition game going, and that’s when we’re at our best,” head coach Mark Few said. “The guys stuck with it, didn’t panic, didn’t get antsy. They stuck with the plan.”
Senior forward Josh Heytvelt, who had 14 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, took a feed from Bouldin for a dunk and Bouldin followed that with a driving layup. Steven Gray hit a 3-pointer and Gonzaga had its first lead, 50-49, since the 7:15 mark of the first half.
Heytvelt and Micah Downs combined for 17 points as Gonzaga stretched its lead to 70-53. Darryl Roberts, who had a career-high 19 points for the Zips, finally connected on a 3-pointer with 2:08 left, but Gonzaga’s lead had grown to 19.
“It was kind of a snowball effect,” said
Linhart torched GU in the first half. The Zags lost track of the 6-foot-8 senior three times and he burned them with 3s on each occasion.
But Gonzaga located Linhart and the Zips’ other perimeter threats in the final 20 minutes.
“He came out hitting his shots in the first half and we weren’t closing out good enough,” said
When the Zags weren’t scoring on the break or one of their six dunks, they were able to get to the foul line. Gonzaga made 26 of 31 free throws as the Zips committed 23 fouls.
“The points of emphasis coming out in the second half were defense and attacking the basket,” GU forward Austin Daye said. “We did a lot better job with both in the second half.”