Recap and highlights: No. 2 Gonzaga cruises past Eastern Washington
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Filip Petrusev had 24 points and nine rebounds and the No. 2 Gonzaga Bulldogs made quick work of the Eastern Washington Eagles 112-77 on Saturday at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane.
Petrusev was one of five Bulldogs in double figures as GU scored its most points this season.
Admon Gilder came off the bench to score 22 points, Ryan Woolridge had 15 and Joel Ayayi and Corey Kispert each had 13 for the Zags.
EWU was led by Jacob Davison’s 17 points. Tyler Kidd added 16 points on 5-of-5 shooting and Kim Aiken Jr. chipped in 11.
Gonzaga ripped off a 23-3 run about a third of the way through the first half to break open a tie game and the Zags never looked back.
The Bulldogs were strong inside, outrebounding the Eags 49-34. GU pulled down 21 offensive rebounds and turned those into 30 second-chance points.
EWU was whistled for 29 fouls in the game, 19 in the second half. Gonzaga went 30 of 40 from the free-throw line, with Petrusev going 10 of 14. Eastern shot just 22 as a team, making 13.
Gonzaga scored 116 points in an exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State on Nov. 1. The previous season high was 110 in a win over Arkansas Pine Bluff on Nov. 9.
Gonzaga Bulldogs / YouTube
First half
15:55 – Gonzaga 8, EWU 6: A runner in the lane from Joel Ayayi has the Zags up on the Eagles af the first media timeout.
Ayayi is one of four Bulldogs to score.
Mason Peatling leads Eastern with four points and three rebounds.
The Zags are 4-of-8 shooting. EWU is shooting 37.5%.
Eastern has made it tough early for the GU big men by clogging the lane with Ryan Woolridge’s defender. Whenever the Zags have put the ball into the post, Woolridge’s man is doubling off of the point guard, hoping to force the Gonzaga forward into giving the ball up or into a contested shot.
12:18 – Gonzaga 24, EWU 9: The Bulldogs are on an 18-3 run and EWU takes a timeout to try and squash the momentum.
Filip Petrusev is up to eight points to lead GU. Corey Kispert and Ryan Woolridge each have five.
EWU has turned the ball over four times and the Zags have converted those into six points.
GU leads in points in the paint, 16-6. The Bulldogs are also outrebounding the Eagles 10-6.
Mason Peatling leads Eastern with four points.
7:41 – Gonzaga 34, EWU 19: Gonzaga has cooled off a bit but still leads the Eagles by 15.
GU hasn’t scored in the last 2-minutes, 24-seconds and is just 1 of its last 8 from the field.
Joel Ayayi leads Gonzaga with 10 points.
On the other end of the court, EWU’s Tyler Kidd has found his shooting stroke. The guard is 3-of-3 shooting and has 10 points. He has connected on two 3-pointers.
3:49 – Gonzaga 50, EWU 26: The Bulldogs continue to pound the Eagles inside and now lead by 24.
Gonzaga is outrebounding the Eagles 25-10 and leads 16-5 in second chance points. GU has pulled down 13 offensive rebounds.
Joel Ayayi, Filip Petrusev, Ryan Woolridge and Admon Gilder each have 10 points to lead GU.
Tyler Kidd continues to pace EWU with 12 points.
Half – Gonzaga 64, EWU 33: Filip Petrusev has 17 points, Joel Ayayi has 12 and the Bulldogs lead the Eagle big at the break.
Halftime
Joel Ayayi has scored 12 points, Corey Kispert has 11 and Ryan Woolridge and Admon Gilder each have 10 for GU.
Petrusev is 5-of-6 shooting and is tied for a team-high six rebounds. The forward from Serbia is also 7 of 8 from the free-throw line.
Gonzaga is shooting 52.2% from the field and has dominated the Eagles inside. The Bulldogs have outrebounded the Eagles, 30-13, and have outscored them in the paint, 38-12. GU also has 14 offensive rebounds which they have converted into 19 second-chance points.
EWU is led by Tyler Kidd, who has 12 points on 3-of-3 shooting. However, the 5-foot-9 guard is one of just two players shooting over 50% for the Eags, who are at 35.5% as a team.
Kim Aiken Jr. has nine points for Eastern and Mason Peatling has added six.
Second half
16:27 – Gonzaga 67, EWU 42: The Eagles open the half of a 9-3 run that forces GU into a timeout.
Jacob Davison is up to 11 points for EWU.
Filip Petrusev has 18 points for Gonzaga.
16:27 – Gonzaga 78, EWU 57: Filip Petrusev is up to 20 points but the Eagles have trimmed the Zags’ lead to 21.
Jacob Davison leads EWU with 17 points.
Eastern has outscored Gonzaga 24-14 in the second half.
Corey Kispert, who has 13 points for Gonzaga, has four fouls.
7:50 – Gonzaga 90, EWU 64: Lots of fouls being called as GU has pushed the lead to 26.
EWU forward Tanner Groves has fouled out and the Eagles have been called for 12 fouls already in the half.
Gonzaga is 21 of 28 from the free-throw line.
Filip Petrusev continues to lead GU with 21 points.
Jacob Davison is still pacing EWU with 17 points.
3:27 – Gonzaga 99, EWU 68: Filip Petrusev is subbed off with a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds and Gonzaga has brought in some reserves to see this one out.
The fouls continue to rack up for EWU as Mason Peatling joins Tanner Groves as Eagles to foul out. Eastern has 16 fouls in the half and 26 in all. Gonzaga has been whistled for nine fouls this half.
Gonzaga is now 25 for 34 from the free-throw line. Eastern has only attempted 18 free throws.
Jacob Davison leads EWU with 17 points.
Final – Gonzaga 112, EWU 77: Filip Petrusev had 24 points and nine rebounds and the Bulldogs made quick work of the Eagles on Saturday in the Kennel.
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