Harris, Bouldin will play

Gonzaga freshman forward Elias Harris said his back is sore, but he anticipates playing Thursday against Pepperdine in a battle of teams with 3-0 West Coast Conference records.

Harris took a hard fall late in Saturday’s win over San Diego, landing on his right hip and lower back. He went to the bench for 2 minutes before returning and scoring two field goals as Gonzaga wrapped up a 68-50 win.

“I feel a little bit sore in my lower back, but it’s not a big deal,” Harris said prior to Tuesday’s practice. “I can play on Thursday.”

Harris said he received “good” treatment Monday.

“I think I can go full speed,” said Harris, who is the team’s leading scorer at 15.5 points per game.

“It’s more of a muscle than a skeletal thing, so that’s good news,” GU head coach Mark Few said. “I’m sure it’s going to be there a while because the muscles can spasm a little bit, but if we get him warmed up and keep him warmed up that will be the biggest keys.”

Senior guard Matt Bouldin also took a spill early in the second half and was seen holding and flexing his right (shooting) hand after the fall.

“It was pretty puffy (Monday), but it’s a lot better (Tuesday),” said Bouldin, who is averaging 15.3 points.

Asked if he had any worries moving forward, Bouldin said, “I don’t think so. I think with ice and a little bit of treatment it’ll be fine.”

Poling heads to SPU

Former Gonzaga forward Andy Poling has decided to transfer to Seattle Pacific University.

“I just think it should be a really good fit,” Poling said in a telephone interview from his home in Portland. “I really liked the coaching staff. They’re all really good guys and the team is really competitive, top 15 (in NCAA Division II) right now. I lived in Seattle until I was 9 or 10. It’s a great city and it’s a little closer to home. My family can come watch me and it’s a smaller school, and I really liked that about Gonzaga.”

Poling said he’ll enroll for spring quarter in March. He’ll have three seasons of eligibility.

The 6-foot-11 Poling played just 23 minutes in six appearances as a redshirt freshman this season before opting to transfer earlier this month. He also considered Portland State, Fresno State, Portland and Nevada before choosing SPU, which is coached by Central Valley High graduate Ryan Looney.