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Gonzaga Basketball

Recap and highlights: Gonzaga puts together complete performance in 98-60 rout of Oregon State

 (Photos by Tyler Tjomsland/Spokesman-Review)
By Theo Lawson The Spokesman-Review

Gonzaga players weren’t around for a decades-long run of futility against Oregon State, yielding 25 losses and just two victories over 80 years, but all were present 12 days ago in Corvallis when the Beavers erased a late six-point deficit and rallied to win in overtime, giving a few-hundred students reason to flood the hardwood floor at Gill Coliseum.

With those images still seared in the memories of Gonzaga players, the Bulldogs had all the inspiration and motivation they needed to return the favor in a way the Beavers probably wouldn’t forget during the return game at McCarthey Athletic Center on Tuesday night.

Graham Ike, whose game-tying 3-pointer eventually became a footnote in the first meeting between the schools, landed a handful of early jabs, Khalif Battle broke out of a two-game scoring slump and the Zags showed the defensive resolve that was missing two weeks ago, thumping OSU 98-60 for their first win over the Beavers since 1932.

It was all Ike for the first 6½ minutes on Tuesday night, all Battle for the next 10 and virtually all Gonzaga for 40 minutes as the Bulldogs fell just shy of 100 points for the fifth time this season and limited the Beavers to 38.2% from the field two weeks after yielding 58.5% to Wayne Tinkle’s team.

Ike, who came off the bench in Saturday’s game at Portland, climbed back into the starting lineup three days later and was dominant from the jump. The senior had Gonzaga’s first points on a tip-in and rattled off 13 points, making 6 of his first 7 shots from the field, before checking out of the game at the 13-minute, 30-second mark.

Ike didn’t score for the remainder of the first half, but added nine more points in the second for 22 in the game. The forward went 10 of 12 from the field and 2 of 3 from the free throw while pulling down seven rebounds.

Coming off scoreless performances in back-to-back games, Battle, who didn’t attempt a shot on Saturday against Portland, got on the scoresheet with a pair of free throws at the 12-minute, 49-second mark and proceeded to score in point-per-minute fashion for the rest of the first half.

The Arkansas transfer hurt the Beavers in a variety of ways, mixing in quick-trigger 3-pointers, driving layups and free throws to supply 19 points in 13 first-half minutes. Battle finished with 23 points for his second-highest total of the season, making 4 of 5 shots from the field, 3 of 4 from the 3-point line and 12 of 13 from the free throw line.

For good measure, Nolan Hickman closed with a 3-point shooting avalanche, drilling four shots from behind the arc in the second half to finish with 16 points and help the Zags finish 9 of 17 from distance.

Michael Ajayi had a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double off the bench and Ben Gregg and Braden Huff combined for 14 points.

Good for 49 combined points in the last game between the teams, Oregon State’s Michael Rataj and Nate Kingz were limited to 26 points on 9 of 19 shooting on Tuesday.

A demanding WCC stretch for Gonzaga (17-6, 7-3) continues on Saturday with the first meeting against first-place Saint Mary’s (18-3, 8-0). The Gaels currently own a two-game advantage at the top of the conference standings, but play fourth-place Santa Clara on Wednesday before Saturday’s matchup with the Zags in Moraga.

BOX SCORE

First half

18:57 – GU 2, OSU 0: Zags get the tip, Gregg misses his first shot after going perfect from the field last game. Ike follows up an OSU miss to get the scoring going.

13:30 – GU 17, OSU 9: Innocenti called for a foul to signal the first media timeout in what has been a free flowing start at the Kennel.

Ike dominating early with 13 points and three rebounds. Statement from the GU big man after being taken out of the starting lineup on Saturday.

10:46 – GU 23, OSU 16: Ajayi badly misses a 3-pointer at the U12 media timeout, as the Zags hold onto their lead. Ike went to the bench after his hot start.

Rataj (seven points) and Kingz (five) keeping the Beavers in it.

8:45 – GU 29, OSU 19: Huff grabs his own miss and puts it in to give the Zags a 10-point lead and a 6-0 run. OSU calls timeout. Zags shooting 65% from the field and have not scored a 3-pointer.

7:51 – GU 31, OSU 22: Minor makes a 3-pointer, but Ajayi answers with a put-back and draws a foul at the U8 media timeout. He’ll shoot a free throw when play resumes.

That’s six second chance points for GU already, who add six points off turnovers. OSU has zero in both categories.

3:54 – GU 41, OSU 27: Battle gets a steal and he’s fouled going for a shot by Minor at the U4 media timeout. 

Battle doing a great job of getting to the line, he’s 6 of 7 and will shoot two more when play resumes. He also has two 3-pointers and a team-high 14 points. Zags are on a 7-0 run and dominating in most categories.

3:07 – GU 46, OSU 27: Battle hits a nice corner 3-pointer and the Beavers call a timeout. Battle now up to 19 points and is 4 of 4 from the field. Zags on a 12-0 run and rolling.

Halftime

Outstanding first half from Gonzaga has it leading Oregon State 50-30 at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Graham Ike scored 13 points in the first seven minutes and Khalif Battle took over from there with a team-high 19 points.

Zags shooting 62% from the field, holding OSU to 39%. Zags have leads in the following categories: points off turnovers (13-0), second chance points (9-3), bench points (27-3) and points in the paint (26-12).

Second half

18:49 – GU 55, OSU 30: Gregg slams a dunk in transition and the Beavers call a quick timeout after giving up five straight points to start the second half.

15:42 – GU 62, OSU 35: All Zags at the first media timeout of the second half. Ike up to 18 points as GU has a 12-5 advantage since halftime.

11:38 – GU 70, OSU 43: Huff is fouled at the U12 media timeout.

Ajayi hit a pair of 3-pointer to bring his total to 10 points, joining Ike (20) and Battle (19) in double figures. 

7:06 – GU 83, OSU 50: Hickman hits his third 3-pointer in a short burst as the Zags avalanche continues at the U8 media timeout. Hickman up to 14 points, fourth Bulldog in double figures.

4:22 – GU 91, OSU 51: Beavers use their last timeout to avoid a heldball. Zags on their way to 100 points in what has been one of their most impressive games of the season. 

GU’s leading scorers: Ike 22, Battle 21, Hickman 16, Ajayi 12.

Starting fives

Gonzaga: Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Emmanuel Innocenti, Ben Gregg, Graham Ike.

Second straight start for Innocenti. Ike returns to the lineup.

Oregon State: Damarco Minor, Nate Kingz, Liutaurus Lelevicius, Michael Rataj, Parsa Fallah.

Pregame

This week will have significant ramifications on Gonzaga’s season.

The Zags have games against Oregon State and Saint Mary’s – two of the top teams in the West Coast Conference – with NCAA Tournament and conference championship stakes on the line.

First up the Bulldogs (15-6, 6-2 WCC) welcome the Beavers (16-6, 6-3) to McCarthey Athletic Center tonight. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN2.

OSU dealt the Zags an overtime loss on Jan. 16 and are looking to sweep the season series. The Gaels (18-3, 8-0) have a two-game lead in the WCC and looked the part of the best team thus far. 

Series history

Oregon State has never lost to Gonzaga with a 13-0 all-time series lead. The Beavers win earlier this month was the first meeting with Mark Few as Zags head coach.

Team stats

  Oregon State (7-14, 2-6) Gonzaga (15-6, 6-2)
Points 78.3 89.2
Points allowed 65.5 72.1
Field goal pct. 49.8 50.0
Rebounds 33.9 39.6
Assists 15.5 19.9
Blocks 3.4 3.0
Steals 7.6 7.6
Streak Won 2 Won 1

Individual leaders

POINTS PPG FG% FT%
Michael Rataj (OSU) 18.0 50.4 81.6
Graham Ike (GU) 17.1 59.0 80.0
REBOUNDS RPG DRPG ORPG
Michael Rataj (OSU) 8.0 6.2 1.8
Graham Ike (GU) 7.2 5.1 2.0
ASSISTS APG TOPG MPG
Damarco Minor (OSU) 5.4 2.2 31.1
Ryan Nembhard (GU) 9.9 2.2 35.0

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