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Gonzaga Basketball

Key matchup: Texas Southern Tigers’ point guard, center among Gonzaga’s concerns

Former Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams drives into the key against Texas Southern’s Trayvon Reed during last year’s game at the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)
Former Gonzaga forward Johnathan Williams drives into the key against Texas Southern’s Trayvon Reed during last year’s game at the McCarthey Athletic Center. (Colin Mulvany / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo
By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com(509) 459-5585

One key matchup just isn’t enough.

The obvious choice is Texas Southern do-everything point guard Jalyn Patterson against Gonzaga counterpart Josh Perkins. Patterson carried the Tigers late in a 72-69 comeback win over Baylor. The LSU transfer made five 3-pointers, two in the final minute, and had six assists. Perkins finished with seven points, eight assists and zero turnovers in the rout of Idaho State.

Gonzaga’s Geno Crandall also figures to see time defending Patterson.

Another interesting matchup involves Texas Southern 7-foot-2 center Trayvon Reed and Gonzaga’s 6-8 Brandon Clarke. Reed posted 15 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and two assists against Baylor. Clarke has been productive in exhibition and regular-season victories, but he’s battled foul trouble: 6-8 Rui Hachimura, who saw time defending 6-11 Jock Landale of Saint Mary’s last season, and 6-11 freshman Filip Petrusev are also options.