Gonzaga-North Dakota State: 3 keys from the Bulldogs’ 102-60 victory over the Bison

Key moment

At the 9:06 mark of the first half, after a mad scramble for a loose ball, Zach Norvell found himself near the basket with Bison guard Vinnie Shahid baring down on him. He took the charge and energized the rest of the Zags. Up to that point, Gonzaga had been struggling to gain traction on the offensive end, evidenced by only a 21-19 lead at that point. As is often the case, the good defensive play energized the offense. and the Bulldogs went on a 36-8 run in the final 11 minutes to take a 53-25 lead into the break.

Offensive MVP

Any number of names could have been picked here since six Zags scored in double figures. Brandon Clarke finished tied with Rui Hachimura for the team lead in points with 18 and he was 9-for-9 shooting from the floor in only 22 minutes. He was on the receiving end of a few alley-oops, showcasing impressive body control on his finishes at the rim.

Defensive MVP

Sweeping the MVP awards on Monday night, Clarke led the team with eight rebounds (no one else had more than four) and all five Gonzaga blocks.