No. 14 Gonzaga, LSU clash in early-season battle of unbeatens
No. 14 Gonzaga Bulldogs and LSU Tigers will put unbeaten records on the line as they meet Saturday in Spokane, Wash., in the toughest test for each team so far this season.
LSU coach Will Wade said he hopes the 2,300-mile trip to the Pacific Northwest will be worth the $30,000 guarantee his team received to play just off the Gonzaga campus at Spokane's Numerica Veterans Arena.
"We're getting money for our NIL to go up there, so the check ain't going to bounce," Wade said. "That may be the best part of the trip if we don't play any better than we've been playing.
"I think I was the only one dumb enough to go up there and play them. It's going to be one of the biggest challenges of our entire season."
Gonzaga (2-0), which makes a habit of playing a difficult nonconference schedule to better prepare for what has become an annual appearance in the NCAA Tournament, already has a victory over Purdue at Las Vegas and another at home against New Mexico State.
The Bulldogs are led by shooting guard Davis Fogle, the reigning Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. Fogle scored a career-high 22 points against Purdue and matched that in a 109-68 victory over New Mexico State in the home opener last Saturday.
LSU (3-0) has hammered its first three outclassed opponents, beating mid-majors LSU New Orleans, Texas Southern and Louisiana Tech by at least 40 points apiece.
The replenished Tigers, who loaded up in the transfer portal, have six players scoring in double figures. Former New Mexico and UCLA guard Donovan Dent is averaging 13.7 points, 8.3 assists and 3.3 steals. Croatian 7-foot freshman Michael Ruzic is averaging 15.7 points and 7.3 rebounds off the bench.
"He's got a heck of a roster now," Few said of Wade. "They might not be as talented as Duke, but it's probably the second-most talented roster, maybe, in college basketball. I don't think everybody knows the level of play of the kids from the international ranks."
Dent and fellow UCLA transfer Skyy Clark gained a fifth year of eligibility via a California court ruling regarding players in the class of 2022.
Gonzaga learned Thursday that 6-foot-11 forward Chauncey Wiggins was granted an injunction to join the program as a transfer from Florida State, where he averaged 13.3 points last season.
Both teams are in the top 30 in Division I in field-goal percentage. The Bulldogs are shooting 53.0% from the floor, 47.5% from 3-point range. Fogle, fifth-year Florida transfer Xaivian Lee and Houston transfer Isiah Harwell have made four 3-pointers apiece. Harwell had 22 points against New Mexico State.
"We have so many guys who are super-talented, can score the ball and know how to play the game," Fogle said. "They know how to make the right reads."
LSU is shooting 54.6% from the floor, led by Ruzic (77.8%), Kentucky transfer Mo Dioubate (66.7%) and freshman Saliou Niang (71.4%).
Gonzaga's frontline features 6-10 Braden Huff (15.0 points per game) and 7-1 Arizona State transfer Massamba Diop (9.5).
"Obviously that team has a lot of talent," Huff said of LSU. "They play really aggressive. It's going to be a fun challenge for us."
Gonzaga has committed only eight turnovers per game and is ranked seventh in offensive efficiency rating by KenPom, while LSU is 27th.
"They like to get out and run," Wade said. "They're elite. They're one of the best teams in the country. We're going to have to play really clean basketball up there."
--Field Level Media
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:17 | Javon Bennett personal foul | |||
| 9:17 | Tigers offensive rebound | |||
| 9:19 | Abdi Bashir Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
| 9:25 | +2 | Massamba Diop makes two point dunk | 13-18 | |
| 9:38 | +2 | Massamba Diop makes two point jump shot (Davis Fogle assists) | 13-16 | |
| 9:58 | Izan Almansa defensive rebound | |||
| 10:00 | Donovan Dent misses three point jump shot | |||
| 10:12 | Javon Bennett turnover (traveling) | |||
| 10:18 | Abdi Bashir Jr. turnover (Javon Bennett steals) | |||
| 10:28 | Michael Ruzic defensive rebound | |||
| 10:30 | Chauncey Wiggins misses three point jump shot | |||
| 10:41 | Davis Fogle defensive rebound | |||
| 10:43 | Michael Ruzic misses two point jump shot | |||
| 10:55 | Izan Almansa shooting foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul) | |||
| 11:04 | Michael Ruzic defensive rebound | |||
| 11:06 | Izan Almansa misses two point layup | |||
| 11:21 | +2 | Divine Ugochukwu makes two point layup | 13-14 | |
| 11:29 | Chauncey Wiggins offensive rebound | |||
| 11:31 | Javon Bennett misses three point jump shot | |||
| 11:43 | TV timeout | |||
| 11:43 | Michael Ruzic personal foul | |||
| 11:44 | Davis Fogle defensive rebound | |||
| 11:46 | Abdi Bashir Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
| 11:51 | Abdi Bashir Jr. defensive rebound | |||
| 11:53 | Davis Fogle misses three point jump shot | |||
| 11:59 | Abdi Bashir Jr. turnover (Izan Almansa steals) | |||
| 12:11 | Mo Dioubate offensive rebound | |||
| 12:13 | Donovan Dent misses two point jump shot | |||
| 12:39 | Michael Ruzic defensive rebound | |||
| 12:39 | Izan Almansa misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
| 12:39 | Divine Ugochukwu shooting foul (Izan Almansa draws the foul) | |||
| 12:39 | +2 | Izan Almansa makes two point layup | 11-14 | |
| 12:39 | Izan Almansa offensive rebound | |||
| 12:41 | Davis Fogle misses three point jump shot | |||
| 13:08 | Michael Ruzic turnover (traveling) | |||
| 13:08 | +2 | Izan Almansa makes two point layup | 11-12 | |
| 13:16 | Chauncey Wiggins defensive rebound | |||
| 13:18 | Saliou Niang misses two point jump shot | |||
| 13:22 | Divine Ugochukwu defensive rebound | |||
| 13:24 | Braden Huff misses two point jump shot | |||
| 13:28 | Saliou Niang personal foul (Massamba Diop draws the foul) | |||
| 13:49 | +3 | Divine Ugochukwu makes three point jump shot | 11-10 | |
| 13:56 | Saliou Niang defensive rebound | |||
| 13:58 | Massamba Diop misses two point layup | |||
| 14:04 | Divine Ugochukwu personal foul (Davis Fogle draws the foul) | |||
| 14:14 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
| 14:16 | Skyy Clark misses two point layup | |||
| 14:36 | Davis Fogle turnover (bad pass) | |||
| 14:41 | Donovan Dent turnover (Bulldogs steals) | |||
| 14:51 | +2 | Isiah Harwell makes two point layup | 8-10 | |
| 14:54 | Isiah Harwell offensive rebound | |||
| 14:56 | Isiah Harwell misses two point layup | |||
| 15:04 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
| 15:06 | Massamba Diop blocks Mo Dioubate's two point layup | |||
| 15:21 | +2 | Braden Huff makes two point jump shot | 8-8 | |
| 15:40 | +1 | Saliou Niang makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-6 | |
| 15:40 | Saliou Niang misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
| 15:40 | TV timeout | |||
| 15:40 | Davis Fogle shooting foul (Saliou Niang draws the foul) | |||
| 16:02 | +2 | Javon Bennett makes two point layup (Davis Fogle assists) | 7-6 | |
| 16:10 | Saliou Niang turnover (Davis Fogle steals) | |||
| 16:17 | Saliou Niang defensive rebound | |||
| 16:19 | Isiah Harwell misses two point jump shot | |||
| 16:22 | Javon Bennett defensive rebound | |||
| 16:24 | Mo Dioubate misses three point jump shot | |||
| 16:32 | Brice Dessert offensive rebound | |||
| 16:34 | Donovan Dent misses two point jump shot | |||
| 16:55 | +2 | Isiah Harwell makes two point layup | 7-4 | |
| 17:17 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
| 17:19 | Skyy Clark misses three point jump shot | |||
| 17:33 | Mo Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
| 17:35 | Javon Bennett misses two point jump shot | |||
| 17:59 | +2 | Donovan Dent makes two point layup | 7-2 | |
| 18:15 | Xaivian Lee personal foul | |||
| 18:15 | Brice Dessert defensive rebound | |||
| 18:17 | Isiah Harwell misses three point jump shot | |||
| 18:17 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
| 18:17 | Mo Dioubate blocks Xaivian Lee's two point jump shot | |||
| 18:28 | Davis Fogle offensive rebound | |||
| 18:28 | Brice Dessert blocks Braden Huff's two point jump shot | |||
| 18:43 | +1 | Donovan Dent makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-2 | |
| 18:43 | Xaivian Lee shooting foul (Donovan Dent draws the foul) | |||
| 18:43 | +2 | Donovan Dent makes two point layup (Mo Dioubate assists) | 4-2 | |
| 18:48 | Mo Dioubate defensive rebound | |||
| 18:50 | Xaivian Lee misses three point jump shot | |||
| 19:02 | Skyy Clark turnover (bad pass) | |||
| 19:13 | Xaivian Lee turnover (offensive foul) | |||
| 19:13 | Xaivian Lee offensive foul | |||
| 19:23 | +2 | Brice Dessert makes two point layup (Skyy Clark assists) | 2-2 | |
| 19:45 | +2 | Xaivian Lee makes two point layup | 0-2 |
| Min. Per Game | ||
| Pts. Per Game | ||
| Ast. Per Game | ||
| Reb. Per Game | ||
| Field Goal % | ||
| Three Point % | ||
| Free Throw % |
| Javon Bennett personal foul | 9:17 |
| Tigers offensive rebound | 9:17 |
| Abdi Bashir Jr. misses two point jump shot | 9:19 |
| |
+ 2 | Massamba Diop makes two point dunk | 9:25 |
| |
+ 2 | Massamba Diop makes two point jump shot (Davis Fogle assists) | 9:38 |
| Izan Almansa defensive rebound | 9:58 |
| Donovan Dent misses three point jump shot | 10:00 |
| Javon Bennett turnover (traveling) | 10:12 |
| Abdi Bashir Jr. turnover (Javon Bennett steals) | 10:18 |
| Michael Ruzic defensive rebound | 10:28 |
| Chauncey Wiggins misses three point jump shot | 10:30 |
| Team Stats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Points | 13 | 18 |
| Field Goals | 5-16 (31.3%) | 9-23 (39.1%) |
| 3-Pointers | 1-5 (20.0%) | 0-6 (0.0%) |
| Free Throws | 2-3 (66.7%) | 0-1 (0.0%) |
| Total Rebounds | 13 | 13 |
| Offensive | 2 | 4 |
| Defensive | 10 | 7 |
| Team | 1 | 2 |
| Assists | 2 | 2 |
| Steals | 0 | 4 |
| Blocks | 2 | 1 |
| Turnovers | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls | 4 | 6 |
| Technicals | 0 | 0 |
| Key Players | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
00
|
. Ugochukwu G | 8.0 PPG | 4.7 RPG | 2.0 APG | 73.3 FG% |
|
00
|
. Diop C | 9.5 PPG | 4.5 RPG | 0.5 APG | 63.6 FG% |
| Top Scorers | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Ugochukwu G | 5 PTS | 1 REB | 0 AST | ||
| M. Diop C | 4 PTS | 0 REB | 0 AST | ||
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
| D. Dent | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2/5 | 0/1 | 1/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Ugochukwu | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Niang | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| S. Clark | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Ruzic | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
| D. Dent | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2/5 | 0/1 | 1/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| D. Ugochukwu | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2/2 | 1/1 | 0/0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| S. Niang | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1/2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| S. Clark | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| M. Ruzic | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
| A. Bashir Jr. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| L. Stansbury | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| S. Pearson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| B. Fife | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| J. Bender | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| G. Levy | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 13 | 12 | 2 | 5/16 | 1/5 | 2/3 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
| I. Harwell | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2/5 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| I. Almansa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2/3 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| B. Huff | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1/3 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Bennett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/3 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| D. Fogle | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0/2 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| On Court | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
| I. Harwell | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2/5 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| I. Almansa | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2/3 | 0/0 | 0/1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| B. Huff | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1/3 | 0/0 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| J. Bennett | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/3 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| D. Fogle | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0/2 | 0/2 | 0/0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| On Bench | PTS | REB | AST | FG | 3PT | FT | PF | STL | BLK | TO | OREB | DREB |
| C. Wiggins | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 0/0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| S. Funches | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| L. Foster | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| A. Metz | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| P. Jefferson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| N. De Sousa | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| C. Nilson | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| J. Ekanga | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Total | 18 | 11 | 2 | 9/23 | 0/6 | 0/1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 7 |