Johnathan Williams, Gonzaga clean up boards to stifle San Diego attack

Gonzaga blew out San Diego early, rolling to a 28-point halftime lead and coasting to a 96-38 victory on Thursday at the Jenny Craig Pavilion to run its record to 29-0 and clinch the West Coast Conference championship.

San Diego missed a lot of shots – 25 of them in the first half and 44 in the game – and often Gonzaga junior forward Johnathan Williams was there to grab the rebound.

“He was great for us,” center Przemek Karnowski said. “He was getting everything, in the first half especially.”

Williams finished with 19 rebounds, 17 defensive. He had 13 by halftime. It was the most by a Zag since Domantas Sabonis pulled down 20 against Pacific last season.

“Sometimes it’s extra effort and just getting lucky,” said Williams, who scored 14 points and posted his third double-double in the last month. “You have to make sure you go (hard) every single time. If you don’t go, you’re not going to get it.”