Recap and highlights: No. 15 Gonzaga turns in impressive performance, knocks off No. 4 Alabama in hostile environment
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – When it comes to the top teams in the country, Gonzaga hadn’t played its best through its grueling nonconference schedule.
That changed against Alabama on Saturday. Gonzaga turned in its most complete performance and proved it belongs with a 100-90 win.
The No. 15 Bulldogs (9-3) knocked off the No. 4 Crimson Tide (9-2) in front of a hostile crowd of 15,847 at the Legacy Arena.
Alabama phenom Brandon Miller was largely unguardable, making 6 of 11 3-pointers for a game-high 36 points, but the Bulldogs were better as a whole, especially in the second half.
Drew Timme led six Bulldogs in double figures with 29 points, as Gonzaga made 74% of its shots in the second half to hold off Miller’s heroics.
Anton Watson added 17 points for Gonzaga, with Nolan Hickman scoring 13, Malachi Smith with 12 and Julian Strawther and Rasir Bolton 11 apiece.
The win serves as a statement for the Bulldogs on the tail end of their nonconference schedule, having lost to top-ranked Purdue, seventh-ranked Texas and 11th-ranked Baylor earlier in the season.
Watson put a punctuation mark on the victory with a coast-to-coast dunk in the final minutes.
Gonzaga returns to Spokane to host Montana on Tuesday and Eastern Oregon on Dec. 28, before opening West Coast Conference play against Pepperdine on Dec. 31.
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First half
19:28 – GU 1, UA 0: Watson makes a one of two free throws after a pair of Alabama missed 3-pointers to open the scoring.
Fans have made their way to the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. Largely Crimson Tide fans, unsurprisingly.
15:26 – UA 16, GU 9: Crimson Tide is dominating the offensive glass (four rebounds) and using those extra chances for open 3-point opportunities.
Alabama is 3 of 8 on 3-pointers, led by Bradley’s seven points.
Timme and Strawther each have four points apiece for Gonzaga.
11:56 – UA 20, GU 16: Bulldogs battling back, as Watson makes a pair of baskets and turnovers become a problem for Alabama.
Crimson Tide did not attempt a 3-pointer between the first two media timeouts, after attempting eight in the first four minutes. Alabama is up to nine turnovers, which the Zags have scored five points from.
7:15 – GU 36, UA 31: Gonzaga stringing together one of its most impressive halves of the season now, shooting 61% from the field and retaking the lead from the Crimson Tide after a slow start.
Timme is up to a team-high 12 points, though seven of the Zags’ eight players that have checked in have scored. The only player that hasn’t, Sallis, was key in limiting Alabama’s perimeter offense when he checked in.
3:30 – GU 41, UA 39: Empty couple of minutes for the Zags, outside of a Reid jumper, but Bolton makes a 3-pointer ahead of the U4 media timeout to help the Bulldogs hold the lead.
0:28 – GU 46, UA 42: Few calls for a timeout ahead of the final possession of the half.
Gonzaga leaning on Timme, who is up to 15 points.
Halftime
Gonzaga leads Alabama 47-42 at the half, overcoming a slow start and a nine-point deficit behind Drew Timme’s 16 points.
The Crimson Tide took advantage of the offensive glass to create easy 3-point opportunities in the early going, but have slowed since and enter halftime shooting 4 of 15 on 3s.
Alabama has also struggled with turnovers, at 14 to Gonzaga’s 3. The Zags have a 10-4 advantage on points scored off turnovers.
The Crimson Tide will need to limit their turnovers in the second half to avoid the upset.
Second half
17:16 – GU 53, UA 51: High paced start to the half, as Miller connects on a 3-pointer to cut the Zags lead to two.
15:51 – GU 59, UA 54: Timme and Miller going back-and-forth and both players led their teams with 20 points.
Team scoring square at 12 points apiece to open the second half.
14:24 – GU 66, UA 57: Watson and Strawther make 3-pointer between an Alabama dunk to give the Bulldogs their largest lead.
Gonzaga shooting 78% from the field in the second half. Hard for anyone to beat them if the Bulldogs do that.
13:40 – GU 66, UA 63: Miller makes a 3-pointer to cut Gonzaga’s lead to three at the U16 media timeout. Miller has a game-high 23 points and is 5 of 7 on 3s.
11:35 – GU 72, UA 67: Timme and Miller trading baskets, as both teams are turning to their best player down the stretch. Smith is whistled for an offensive foul at the U12 media timeout.
Timme leads the Zags with 25 points and nine rebounds. Miller has 27 points for Alabama.
5:18 – GU 88, UA 80: Miller makes a jumper to go up to 36 points in the game, but the Bulldogs are holding to the lead behind Timme’s 27 and Watson’s 15.
3:53 – GU 88, UA 82: Clowney is called for fouls at each end of the floor, leading to the final media timeout.
1:33 – GU 94, UA 84: Timme is fouled going to the hoop and it looks like Gonzaga should go on to win.
Starting Five
Pregame
What a difference a year makes.
In a twist of fate, Gonzaga has a chance to upset Alabama in a near-home setting, after the then-No. 16 Crimson Tide beat the then-No. 3 Bulldogs in Seattle last December.
No. 15 Gonzaga hopes to play spoiler against No. 4 Alabama today at 10 a.m. This time the not-so-neutral venue is the Legacy Arena in Birmingham, Alabama. The game will be broadcast on CBS.
The Crimson Tide (9-1) are off to a sensational start, beating two previously top-ranked teams in North Carolina and Houston. Alabama’s only loss came against No. 3 Connecticut at the Phil Knight Invitational tournament.
The Bulldogs (8-3) have strung together three straight wins since losing to Baylor on Dec. 2. Gonzaga has played four ranked opponents this year and lost three.
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