Recap and highlights: No. 5 Gonzaga use tough defense to down Loyola Marymount

Zach Norvell Jr. scored 17 points and dished out four assists to help No. 5 Gonzaga down Loyola Marymount 73-55 on Thursday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Rui Hachimura added 10 points and seven assists for the Bulldogs (17-2, 4-0 WCC), while Brandon Clarke (13 points) and Corey Kispert (12) also scored in double figures.

James Batemon paced the Lions (13-5, 1-3) with 12 points.

The Bulldogs shot 50.9 percent from the floor and 30.4 percent from 3-point range, while holding LMU to 38.2 percent overall and 55.6 percent from deep.

Both teams struggled with turnovers, as LMU finished with 17 and Gonzaga had 16. GU outrebounded the Lions 35-31 and dominated in the paint 42-24.

The Bulldogs travel to Portland to take on the Pilots on Saturday (7 p.m., Fox 28)

Second half

Final – Gonzaga 73, LMU 55: Lions get the score a little too close for comfort as GU coach Mark Few puts a couple of starters back on the floor to close out the win.

GU’s defense really stepped up when the offense wasn’t fully clicking tonight. Still, four Bulldogs hit double figures, led by Zach Norvell Jr.’s 17-point performance.

Zags now hit the road for a short trip to Portland on Saturday, followed by a visit to Santa Clara next Thursday.

3:53 – Gonzaga 64, LMU 41: Let the bench clearing begin for the Bulldogs, as Killian Tillie, Geno Crandall, Jeremy Jones and Filip Petrusev get in on the action.

GU’s shooting touch starts to cool down with the reserves on the floor, but the Zags are still hitting at a 49 percent mark overall and 27.3 percent from deep.

Speaking of 3-point range, Corey Kispert gets into double figures after a wide-open triple. The sophomore from Edmonds, Washington is up to 12 points.

7:47 – Gonzaga 61, LMU 35: Killian Tillie isn’t letting Brandon Clarke have all the fun on defense, as Tillie blocks a LMU shot with authority. Zags up to five blocks.

Quiet game so far for Josh Perkins, but the GU guard will make the highlight reel after a strong coast-to-coast, up-and-under layup and foul for the and-one play. He’s at seven points, but just one assist.

Rui Hachimura the third Bulldog into double figures with 10 points. He’s also grabbed six rebounds and has one assist.

LMU still being led by James Batemon’s 10 points and three rebounds.

11:54 – Gonzaga 57, LMU 28: Zach Norvell Jr. on fire this half for the Bulldogs as the sophomore wing hits another triple and has 17 points.

On the other end of the court, Brandon Clarke’s block party continues. The San Jose State transfer up to three swats tonight (64 on the year) and is closing in on Austin Daye’s single-season record of 70.

Clarke joins Norvell as the second GU player in double figures with 11 points.

LMU shooting just 27.8 percent from the floor and has 15 turnovers.

15:54 – Gonzaga 47, LMU 24: Gonzaga moving the ball much better out of the break, while still putting a ton of defensive pressure on the Lions. Even with a 14-point halftime lead, the Zags still looked a half step slower in the first 20 minutes. They’re playing at a much higher pace out of the half.

Strong takes by Zach Norvell Jr. and Rui Hachimura extend the GU lead to 18 points, followed by a hard foul of Killian Tillie. Refs take a look at the contact but decide it’s not worth a flagrant as Tillie knocks down both free throws to get GU’s lead to 20 for the first time.

After fouling out in two of his first three games this season, Tillie has looked much more comfortable at game speed tonight. The junior big man has seven points and four rebounds, while not committing a foul.

Norvell now leading all scorers with 12 points after hitting his second 3-pointer of the game.

First half

Halftime – Gonzaga 36, LMU 22: Solid 20 minutes of shooting the ball and applying defensive pressure for the Zags, but the eight turnovers aren’t a stat to remember.

Corey Kispert leading the way for GU with nine points, while Zach Norvell Jr. and Rui Hachimura have seven points each.

James Batemon has seven points for LMU.

Zags shoot 51.7 percent overall and 27.3 percent from 3-point range, while LMU shoots 36.4 percent from the floor and 50 percent from deep.

Big rebounding advantage for GU (18-11), while Gonzaga is also having no problem in the paint, outscoring the Lions 24-6.

GU having a lot of success on the defensive end trapping the LMU guards. Zags have forced the Lions into 11 turnovers.

Eight man rotation again in the first half for GU, with Killian Tillie (12 minutes), Geno Crandall (11) and Jeremy Jones (2) seeing the court.

3:48 – Gonzaga 34, LMU 20: Big block for GU’s Brandon Clarke out of the timeout as LMU center Mattias Markusson got Jeremy Jones to bite on the fake, but not Clarke, who is averaging more than three swats a game.

Clarke nearly gets his second block on a James Batemon drive, but the LMU guard nails the tricky floater to get to seven points.

With the touches becoming limited in the paint, Rui Hachimura ventures outside and knocks down a rare 3-point attempt. Hachimura up to 23 3-point shots this season.

Clarke also getting it done on the other side of the court with a nifty up-and-under layup while getting fouled. Bucket caps off an 13-2 run for the Zags, who have their first real separation of the night from the Lions.

7:43 – Gonzaga 23, LMU 18: Turnovers continue to be a concern in this for for Gonzaga, as GU is already up to six giveaways.

Zags forcing LMU into mistakes as well, as Killian Tillie gets a steal and finds a sprinting Zach Norvell Jr. for the reverse layup.

GU has been dominant in the paint, outscoring the Lions 18-4.

Nice half so far for Corey Kispert. The sophomore has a game-high eight points on 3 of 4 shooting and two rebounds.

11:48 – Gonzaga 17, LMU 16: Geno Crandall and Killian Tillie make their entrances after the timeout as Brandon Clarke and Corey Kispert head to the bench.

Quick bucket gets Tillie on the board as he’s up to five points.

GU really turning up the defensive pressure as Josh Perkins picks off a LMU pass and coasts to the bucket for an easy layup. LMU shooting well enough though to keep pace with the Zags (50 percent overall, 75 percent from deep).

Lions doing a good job of keeping the ball out of Rui Hachimura’s hands as the GU big man has just two points.

Joe Quintana leads all players with six points.

15:28 – Gonzaga 8, LMU 6: Loyola’s offense going through its guards as James Batemon and Joe Quintana have five points on five combined shots.

Corey Kispert gets the start again as Killian Tillie begins the game on the bench. Kispert misses an open look from deep, but knocks down a pair of free throws after an aggressive take to the bucket.

Turnovers a concern in the opening minutes for the Zags, who have four at the first media timeout.

Kispert leading the way with four points for the Bulldogs, including a big slam off a Rui Hachimura assist.

Gonzaga announces starting 5

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