Analysis: Offense, defense share spotlight as Gonzaga routs San Francisco

These things might sound familiar by now.

Zach Norvell Jr. going on a scoring spree. Brandon Clarke swatting everything in sight. Josh Perkins distributing. Gonzaga dominating inside.

And, unfortunately, star-crossed forward Killian Tillie landing on the injury list again.

One thing that is starting to sound more familiar as the season progresses: Gonzaga’s defense competing with its high-powered offense for headlines.

The fourth-ranked Zags notched their 13th straight win with another solid all-around performance, but this one was more impressive in one sense: Gonzaga took apart San Francisco, a team considered to be on the NCAA Tournament bubble, 92-62 in front of 6,000 Thursday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The Dons (17-6, 5-4 WCC) entered with their best 22-game start since 1982. They’ve now only lost two games by more than six points; Gonzaga went on a late run to win the first meeting 96-83 last month. The Zags (22-2, 9-0) went on a 24-minute run to blow out USF in the rematch.

“It shows that we’re really good, obviously,” said Clarke, who blocked five shots to give him 74, breaking Austin Daye’s single-season record of 70 set in 2009. “They’re really good. It shows our offense is really that good, and our defense is starting to pick up behind it.”

Clarke added a game-high 16 rebounds.

Norvell provided the spark late in the first half. The sophomore wing dropped a 3-pointer to boost GU’s lead to 31-25. He followed with two more 3s, a layup and a pair of free throws for a personal run of 13 points in roughly 3:20 as the Zags led 43-30 at half.

“I’ve always been a confident guy,” a smiling Norvell said. “I got a couple of clean looks. After I made that first one, I felt like (Perkins) was looking for me a little bit and I was able to get the next one in the corner.”

Norvell’s lone second-half point came on a free throw after a hard foul by USF standout point guard Frankie Ferrari early in the second half.

Tempers flared and both were assessed technicals, which hurt the Dons more because Ferrari spent part of the half on the bench with four fouls.

“We shook hands afterward,” Norvell said. “It was just in the heat of the moment. I’ve got a lot of respect for that guy.”

Ferrari finished with 14 points, four steals and three assists, but the Zags generally kept the 5-foot-11 senior in check. Guard Charles Minlend scored 10 points in the opening half, but was limited to four points on 2-of-7 shooting in the second half.

By game’s end, Ferrari probably saw six or seven defenders as the Zags switched often on screens, which put Clarke on the point guard at times. Ferrari had just three assists – he averages 5.7 – and two turnovers.

“We made things tough for them, tough for Frankie (with) tough 2s, take away his 3s,” said Perkins, who had seven assists and three turnovers, all committed in the first 8 minutes. “We tried to keep a guy with him at all times on ball screens and it helps I have the human eraser (Clarke) on my team.”

Perkins joined in with one of Gonzaga’s 10 blocks.

“That was No. 2 (actually four for Perkins) on the season,” Clarke said. “Afterward, he told me he was coming for the record.”

Tillie, who missed the first two months of the season following ankle surgery to repair a stress fracture, hobbled off the court and went immediately to the locker room after connecting on two field goals that put the Zags up 62-46.

“It’s not the bone or the stress fracture,” coach Mark Few said. “It sounds like he might have sprained the bottom of his foot, or something on the bottom of his foot.”

Tillie, who has played in just nine games, will have additional tests today.

Gonzaga limited the Dons to 39 percent shooting and nearly 15 points less than their season average.

“They’re so well coached, so experienced. Once you mess up, they make you pay,” Perkins said. “Our DER (defensive efficiency rating) was .83. That’s a really good number against a team like that.”

After being outscored in the paint in the first half, the Zags pounded USF 30-16 in the final 20 minutes.

The Zags had multiple scoring options, led by Clarke’s 20 points and Rui Hachimura’s hard-earned 17. Geno Crandall added 12 points, one shy of his season high. Norvell has hit 8 of 12 3-pointers in the past two games.