Recap and highlights: No. 2 Gonzaga uses strong second half to put away Loyola Marymount
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Filip Petrusev scored 21 points to lead five Bulldogs’ scorers in double figures and No. 2 Gonzaga powered past Loyola Marymount 85-67 Thursday night at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
Drew Timme and Admon Gilder each scored 17 points for the Zags (24-1, 10-0 WCC), who shot 60% for the game. Ryan Woolridge chipped in 12 points and Corey Kispert added 11.
Eli Scott led LMU (8-16, 2-8) with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Gonzaga was shaky in the first half and took just a 38-30 lead into halftime after Kispert connected on 3-pointer seconds before the buzzer. The Bulldogs turned the ball over nine times in the half and made just two 3s, while LMU shot just well enough, 43.3%, to stay in the game.
The Zags stepped their play up after the break.
Over the first eight minutes of the second half GU didn’t turn the ball over and shot 70% to expand its lead to 15. Woolridge scored six points in the first six minutes, most off turnovers, as the Zags ratcheted up the defensive intensity.
Gonzaga forced 17 LMU turnovers in the game and converted those into 23 points. GU ran off 20 fast-break points.
When the Zags did get into their half-court offense, Petrusev was a force inside. The sophomore forward went 5-of-6 shooting and pulled down six rebounds. He also drew numerous fouls on LMU’s big men on his way to 11-of-15 free-throw shooting in the game.
Gonzaga finished 18 of 25 from the line. LMU went just 7 of 12.
The win was Gonzaga’s 23rd straight over LMU. GU has won 30 straight at home over the Lions. The last LMU win in Spokane was on Feb. 7, 1991.
The Zags also improved the nation’s best home win streak to 36. They also extended their WCC-record, regular-season conference winning streak to 36.
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First half
15:41 – Gonzaga 11, LMU 7: Gonzaga’s two starting forwards have combined to score all the Bulldogs’ points as GU is looking to get the ball inside against the Lions.
Drew Timme has six points to lead all scorers and Filip Petrusev has five on 2-of-2 shooting.
LMU’s Eli Scott has five points to pace the Lions.
All the Gonzaga baskets have come from the paint.
11:31 – Gonzaga 17, LMU 11: Drew Timme is up to eight points as the Zags take a six-point lead into the under-12 media timeout.
Timme, a freshman forward from Texas, is 4-of-5 shooting and has three rebounds.
Gonzaga is shooting 61.5% and has held LMU to 35.7%.
The Bulldogs have scored 16 points in the paint.
7:58 – Gonzaga 27, LMU 19: All six Gonzaga players have scored but LMU is hanging around thanks to the 3-pointer.
The Bulldogs had stretched the lead to 25-13 before the Lions connected on two consecutive 3s. LMU is 3 of 7 from 3-point range. Gonzaga has made just one 3-pointer on four tries.
Ivan Alipiev and Eli Scott each have five points to lead LMU.
Drew Timme leads Gonzaga with eight points.
3:20 – Gonzaga 32, LMU 26: Gonzaga leads by six at the final media timeout of the half.
The Zags are shooting 60% but have turned the ball over seven times, helping the Lions stick around.
Drew Timme and Filip Petrusev each have eight points to lead GU.
Corey Kispert has struggled for the Zags so far. The junior is just 1-of-5 shooting for two points.
Ivan Alipiev leads LMU with eight points. He is 2 of 3 from 3. Lions’ leading-scorer Eli Scott has seven points, but has been called for two fouls.
Halftime
Gonzaga 38, LMU 30: Drew Timme has 10 points, Filip Petrusev has nine and the Bulldogs take an eight-point lead into halftime.
Gonzaga is shooting 60.9% but has committed nine turnovers – which LMU has converted into 11 points to stay close.
Ryan Woolridge has six points for Gonzaga and Corey Kispert has five. Kispert had been quiet in this one until he connected on a 3-pointer right before halftime to push GU’s lead to eight.
Ivan Alipiev leads LMU with eight points. He is 2 of 3 from 3. Lions’ leading scorer Eli Scott has seven points, but has been called for two fouls and only played 12 minutes.
LMU is 4 of 11 on 3-pointers. Gonzaga is 2 of 7.
Second half
13:59 – Gonzaga 52, LMU 38: Ryan Woolridge has six points in the first six minutes of the second half for Gonzaga and the Bulldogs get the lead to double digits.
Woolridge is up to 12 points after a trio of fast break layups to start the half. Filip Petrusev leads Gonzaga with 14 points.
11:42 – Gonzaga 57, LMU 42: The Bulldogs have taken care of the ball so far in the second half and have the lead up to 15.
Gonzaga is looking much more like its No. 2 ranking with no turnovers and shooting 70% in the half.
Filip Petrusev has 14 points to lead GU. Corey Kispert is up to 11 points, going 3 of 6 on 3-pointers.
8:00 – Gonzaga 72, LMU 45: The Zags rip off a 17-3 run over the last 4:13 and expand their lead to 27.
Gonzaga has five scorers in double figures, led by Filip Petrusev’s 21 points. Drew Timme and Ryan Woolridge each have 12 points. Corey Kispert and Admon Gilder each have 11.
Gonzaga has not turned the ball over in the half and has forced seven LMU turnovers.
3:49 – Gonzaga 80, LMU 56: Admon Gilder is up to 17 points for Gonzaga and the Bulldogs lead by 24 at the final media timeout.
Gonzaga has shot 63.6% this half and is 5 of 11 from 3-point range. Filip Petrusev leads GU with 21 points. Petrusev is 11 of 15 from the free-throw line.
Eli Scott leads LMU with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
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