Recap and highlights: Gonzaga overcomes slow start, routs Roadrunners 89-54

Rui Hachimura scored 22 points and Jeremy Jones notched a double-double as seventh-ranked Gonzaga raced past Cal State Bakersfield 89-54 on Monday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Gonzaga (13-2) wrapped up its nonconference slate with the win and will open West Coast Conference play at home against Santa Clara on Saturday (6 p.m., KHQ).

Jones scored 11 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in 29 minutes off the bench for the Bulldogs. The senior wing played the majority of the first half after point guard Josh Perkins picked up two fouls in the first three minutes of the game.

Brandon Calrke (16 points), Zach Norvell Jr. (16) and Perkins (10) also scored in double figures for the Zags.

Bakersfield’s Jarkel Joiner led all scorers with 24 points. The Roadrunners (8-5) didn’t have another player reach double figures.

Gonzaga shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 38.5 percent from 3-point range, while CSUB shot 36.7 percent overall and 15.8 percent from deep.

Bakersfield had the advantage on the boards (38-36), but committed 20 turnovers. Gonzaga again dominated in the paint, outscoring the Roadrunners 38-22.

Second half

Final – Gonzaga 89, CSU Bakersfield 54: Gonzaga turns to its bench to close this one out as Joel Ayayi drains a 3-pointer.

West Coast Conference play up next for the Bulldogs, beginning with Santa Clara coming to The Kennel on Saturday (6 p.m., KHQ).

Five Zags finish in double figures scoring, while Jones has the lone double-double for GU.

3:45 – Gonzaga 80, CSU Bakersfield 50: Double-double for Jeremy Jones, who has been fantastic off the bench tonight for the bulldogs. He’s up to 11 points and 10 rebounds in 27 minutes of action.

Interesting decisions coming soon for Gonzaga coach Mark Few for guys like Jones and Corey Kispert as guard Geno Crandall and forward Killian Tillie are close to returning from injury.

Tillie likely jumps into the starting lineup, leaving Kispert or Brandon Clarke the odd man out. Crandall then becomes one of the first options off the bench, cutting into other players’ minutes.

Another massive slam on a fast break from Rui Hachimura gets the Gonzaga bench up and cheering. The junior forward has 22 points.

Bakersfield’s Jarkel Joiner still leads all scorers with 24 points.

7:51 – Gonzaga 73, CSU Bakersfield 45: Break in the action as the refs take a look at a hard foul on Jeremy Jones. The Zags wing had a nice take to the basket and was hit hard near the head by Bakersfield’s Taze Moore.

Refs end up ruling no flagrant.

Gonzaga shooting the ball much better this half, hitting 58.8 percent overall and 55.6 percent from 3-point range, including making 4 of its last 6 from deep.

Rui Hachimura up to 20 points for the Zags, while Zach Norvell Jr. and Brandon Clarke have 16 each. Norvell also has a team-high five assists

11:47 – Gonzaga 65, CSU Bakersfield 37: About time to put a fork in the Zags’ nonconference slate.

Historic win over Duke in Hawaii and rise to the top spot in the AP rankings were the highs, followed by losses to Tennessee and North Carolina as the speed bumps. GU has been impressive over the holiday stretch though and should have plenty of confidence going into West Coast Conference play.

Josh Perkins picks up his fourth foul for the Zags. That should mean minutes for either Greg Foster Jr. or Joel Ayayi down the stretch.

Brandon Clarke now leading the way for the Bulldogs with 16 points.

15:05 – Gonzaga 55, CSU Bakersfield 35: Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke keep rolling for the Zags. Rui up to 15 points, while Clarke has 14 points and four rebounds.

Zach Norvell also into double figures with 11 points after hitting a pair of 3-pointers.

Jarkel Joiner having a nice game for the Roadrunners with 17 points on 8 of 12 shooting.

CSUB up to 40.5 percent shooting, but have taken three less shots than the Zags.

First half

Halftime – Gonzaga 43, CSU Bakersfield 24: Bulldogs able to withstand the early defensive pressure from the Roadrunners to break out for a big half on offense.

Rui Hachimura leads Gonzaga with 13 points, while Jeremy Jones has 10 points and seven rebounds in his 17 minutes off the bench.

Zags end the half on a high note as Brandon Clarke’s floater beats the buzzer. The big man has 10 points and two assists.

Bulldogs shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 20 percent from 3-point range, while CSUB is shooting 35.7 percent overall and just 11.1 percent from deep.

Zags outrebounding the Roadrunners 20-17 and have five turnovers to Bakersfield’s 11.

GU also dominating in the paint, outscoring CSUB 26-8.

1:37 – Gonzaga 39, CSU Bakersfield 20: Bulldogs have found a groove now as their shooting percentage gets over 40 percent.

Jeremy Jones having an impressive first half with 10 points and six rebounds. He’s the first Zags player into double figures.

Josh Perkins gets back on the court and immediately takes a Zach Norvell Jr. pass to the bucket for an easy two points.

GU has been a little sloppy with the ball so far. Mark Few calls his second timeout of the half after the fifth Bulldog turnover.

Rui Hiachimura has 11 points for Gonzaga, while Brandon Clarke has eight.

7:55 – Gonzaga 18, CSU Bakersfield 12: Zags struggling to get anything going from deep, but the inside play is coming to life. Nice putback from Jeremy Jones on a missed Corey Kispert triple gets the wing to five points.

Jones, who came off the bench to replace Josh Perkins, has five rebounds to lead Gonzaga.

Bakersfield’s Rickey Holden has five points and four turnovers so far.

11:59 – Gonzaga 11, CSU Bakersfield 6: Finally an offensive spark from GU as the 1-2-2 press forces a Bakersfield turnover and Rui Hachimura throws down a dunk on the fast break.

Zags have stopped settling for tough shots and are getting to the rim and free-throw line.

Zach Norvell Jr. has five for the Bulldogs, while Hachimura has four. GU has made 7 of 8 from the charity stripe.

Bulldogs holding the Roadrunners to 11.1 percent shooting

14:54 – CSU Bakersfield 6, Gonzaga 4: Slow going on the offensive end for both teams out of the gate, as the defensive pressure has been impressive.

Bakersfield comes out showing a press off in-bounds plays, while the Bulldogs counter with a trap after a pair of made Rui Hachimura free throws – a defensive switch they’ve shown several times this season. Bakersfield also rotating well in their zone defense in the halfcourt, forcing Gonzaga into tough looks at the basket.

Zags again big favorites against the Roadrunners (27 points), but CSUB should put up more fight than recent GU opponents like Denver and North Alabama.

Two quick fouls called on GU’s Josh Perkins, means Mark Few will have to turn to his bench early.

Gonzaga announces starting lineup

Pregame

Game preview

Gonzaga roster

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CSU Bakersfield roster

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