Recap and highlights: Six players score in double figures as top-ranked Gonzaga thumps North Dakota State 102-60

Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura scored 18 points each as top-ranked Gonzaga routed North Dakota State 102-60 on Monday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs (7-0), who earned the No. 1 ranking earlier in the day in both the Associated Press and USA Today polls, were without reserve guard Geno Crandall for the game.

Crandall fractured a bone in his right hand over the weekend and will miss 4-6 weeks.

Clarke also shined on defense for the Zags, recording all five of the team’s blocks and grabbing eight rebounds.

Six Bulldogs finished in doubel figures for GU, including Corey Kispert (17), Zach Norvell Jr. (15), Filip Petrusev (11) and Josh Perkins (10).

Norvell also dished out a team-best eight assists without a turnovers. GU finished with 25 assists.

North Dakota State was led by Vinnie Shahid’s 16-point effort.

Gonzaga finished shooting 63.8 percent overall and 53.6 percent from 3-point range, while the Bison (2-5) shot 35.4 percent overall and 14.8 percent from deep.

The Bulldogs will now hit the road again for a Saturday morning showdown with Creighton (11 a.m., Fox 28).

Follow along here for updates and analysis as the Gonzaga Bulldogs host the North Dakota State Bison at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. You can watch the game on KHQ in the Spokane area and on ROOT Sports around the region.

Second half

Final – Gonzaga 94, NDSU 53: Good game for the Bulldogs to get their feet set back on the mainland, but the schedule gets tough real quick.

Up next, a Saturday morning trip to Creighton, which is 5-1 and also coming off a holiday tournament title.

GU’s depth looked good tonight with a second starting-caliber player going down due to injury.

Once again, the GU starting five shows why they’re one of the best crews in the country. Everyone scoring in double figures with the forward combo of Rui Hachimura and Brandon Clarke leading the way with 18 points apiece.

3:30 – Gonzaga 94, NDSU 53: Solid showings off the bench again for Filip Petrusev and Jeremy Jones. The duo figure to be the first players off the bench over the next month for the Zags.

Petrusev at eight points on 3 of 5 shooting, while Jones has four points and four rebounds.

Jones was a standout for GU in Maui, while Petrusev has played plenty of meaningful minutes with Killian Tillie sidelines.

Guards Jack Beach and Matthew Lang also check in for the Zags.

Other standout stats for the Zags tonight is the 26-4 advantage in fast-break points and the 21-6 advantage in points off turnovers.

GU has also passed the ball incredibly well with 23 assists to just eight turnovers.

7:54 – Gonzaga 85, NDSU 42: Bench-clearing time comes early tonight for the Zags, as Greg Foster Jr., Joel Ayayi, Filip Petrusev and Jeremy Jones all join Rui Hachimura on the floor.

GU’s shooting percentage down a 66.7 percent overall and 54.5 percent from range – still staggering numbers for the Bulldogs.

Zags also getting it done of defense. NDSU has turned the ball over 12 times to just two assists. Bison also shooting just 30.2 percent from the floor.

11:15 – Gonzaga 78, NDSU 38: Pace of this one starting to slow down as the GU starters get a break. Fouls adding up as well on both teams, but nothing too concerning on the GU side of the ball.

Josh Perkins becomes the fifth Gonzaga player in double figures with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers.

Zags also have a new leader in the clubhouse as Corey Kispert is heating up. The sophomore hits three triples to get to 17 points. He is 5 of 8 from downtown as GU has made 13 3-pointers, the most in a game this season.

15:45 – Gonzaga 63, NDSU 36: Brandon Clarke up to five blocks in this one as he gets another swat to start the second half.

Zags will face some tougher tests over the next few weeks (at Creighton, vs. Tennessee in Phoenix, vs. Washington and at North Carolina). It’ll be interesting to see how this lineup can hold up in that stretch without Killian Tillie/Geno Crandall.

Clarke up to 16 points on 8 of 8 shooting. Rui Hachimura and Zach Norvell Jr. hot on his heels with 15 points apiece.

NDSU’s Vinnie Shahid the first Bison plyer into double figures with 13 points. Reserve big man Deng Geu has eight points.

First half

Halftime – Gonzaga 53, NDSU 25: Buckets coming easy for the Bulldogs near the end of the first half.

Zach Norvell Jr. up to 11 points after his third 3-pointer. Corey Kispert nearly into double figures as well with eight points after a steal and slam.

Zags came out slow to start this one – maybe a bit of jet lag from their big Maui Invitational win – but they’ve certainly found their footing. Spread on the game was 26.5 points, a margin GU has already surpassed.

Gonzaga shoots an amazing 72.4 percent from the floor and 58.3 percent from 3-point range in the half, while North Dakota State shoots 37 percent overall and 30.8 percent from deep.

GU with 18 rebounds to NDSU’s nine. Zags also have 13 assists to the Bison’s one. Turnovers favor Gonzaga (3-8), as do blocks (4-0) and steals (5-2).

GU with 24 points in the paint and 17 points off turnovers.

3:05 – Gonzaga 42, NDSU 22: Gonzaga looking more and more like the top team in the country as another Perkins triple brings the GU run to 15-0 over a four-minute period.

Brandon Clarke the first Bulldogs into double figures, as he’s up to 14 points and 6 rebounds.

Greg Foster Jr. into the game for GU. The true freshman figures to be in the mix for more minutes with Crandall being sidelined. He, and his John Stockton-era short shorts, should see some important court time tonight with the Bulldogs stretching this lead out to a comfortable margin.

A Cameron Hunter 3-pointer finally puts an end to the GU run, but another Zach Norvell Jr. triple makes it clear that GU has no interest in giving up its new No. 1 ranking this quick.

Rui Hachimura joins Clarke in double figures after a breakaway dunk. He’s up to 10 points on 4 of 6 shooting.

7:45 – Gonzaga 26, NDSU 19: Both teams making some changes on defense after the opening 10 minutes. GU going into a zone press after makes, while NDSU dropping a second defender into the paint to stop the easy GU buckets.

Big 3-pointer from Zach Norvell Jr. gives Gonzaga the lead right after the Bison go in front. Zags playing loose with the ball though as GU has three turnovers.

NDSU nearly goes back in front, but a 3-pointer comes after the shot clock expires.

Zags starting to find their rhythm from deep as Josh Perkins connects with a triple. He’s up to five points, five assists, a steal and no turnovers for GU.

Zags shooting 62.5 percent from the floor in their return to the Kennel, along with 42.9 percent from deep. NDSU shooting 53.3 percent overall and 40 percent from 3-point range.

12:00 – Gonzaga 16, NDSU 13: Brandon Clarke’s defense continues to be a bright spot early in the year for the Zags. The San Jose State transfer has two blocks so far, one of which saved an easy NSCU bucket after a Rui Hachimura turnover.

Speaking of Hachimura, the junior forward is starting to get it going on the offensive end. He’s got seven points on 3 of 4 shooting.

NDSU hanging around though, shooting 45.5 percent.

14:26 – Gonzaga 12, NDSU 7: Tough blow for the Bulldogs before this one even gets going as the team announces backup guard Geno Crandall has a fractured hand.

Crandall has been the first guard off the bench for Gonzaga this season. Already playing an eight-man rotation, GU’s depth will be tested even more over the upcoming weeks.

Zags keen on getting the ball inside to Rui Hachimura early in this one, a part of the game that GU will have the advantage in all night.

Big then setting up the outside shot for GU, including an early 3-pointer from Corey Kispert.

Brandon Clarke leads GU with four points, while Hachimura and Kispert have three apiece.

Zags have also forced a pair of quick Bison turnovers.

NDSU guard Vinnie Shahid has all seven of the Bison points.

Gonzaga announces starting lineup

Pregame

Game preview

Gonzaga roster

STATS LEADERS

North Dakota State roster

STATS LEADERS

Last game: Gonzaga 89, Duke 87

Gonzaga found itself in the same position as Duke’s first five opponents: appearing helpless as the Blue Devils and their rim-rattling freshmen ran past and flew over them.

The Zags never panicked, never looked up in awe at the bouncy Blue Devils. They have too much experience to get rattled, even against college basketball’s most talked-about team.

Playing with poise and grit down the stretch, No. 3 Gonzaga turned back top-ranked Duke’s late-game charge to win the Maui Invitational title game 89-87 on Wednesday.

“Experience plays a big role in this,” said Gonzaga guard Zach Norvell Jr., who had 18 points. “We came down the stretch and got some stops. We knew we were winning it on the defensive end.”

Gonzaga (6-0) put on an offensive show in the first half and battened down on defense after Duke made a second-half charge, blocking four shots in the final 46 seconds to win its second Maui title. – Associated Press