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Gonzaga Basketball

Gonzaga’s three transfers make tourney debut in style with victory

Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams (3) dunks during the second half of a first round NCAA men
Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams (3) dunks during the second half of a first round NCAA men's college basketball tournament game, Thurs., March 16, 2017, at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Whitney Ogden whitneyo@spokesman.com(509) 481-1067

SALT LAKE CITY – All three of Gonzaga’s transfers – Nigel Williams-Goss, Jordan Mathews and Johnathan Williams – won their first game in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday against the South Dakota State.

It was the first time Williams-Goss, a redshirt junior from Washington, and Williams, a redshirt junior from Missouri, have played in the tournament.

“It’s a blessing,” Williams said after the Zags topped SDSU 66-46. “It’s a crazy feeling.”

It was the second appearance in the tournament for senior guard Mathews, who transferred from California in 2016. Last year, the Golden Bears traveled to Spokane for the first round of the NCAA Tournament against Hawaii. Cal fell to the Rainbow Warriors 77-66 behind Mathews’ game-high 23 points.

On Thursday, Mathews led his team again with 16 points for the Zags, hitting 5-of-11 shots from the field.