Slammed: Clarke scores 36 in Gonzaga's 83-71 win over Baylor
AP
Mar 23, 2019
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Next stop on the Brandon Clarke Dunk `n Swat Festival: The Sweet 16.
The Gonzaga Bulldogs forward had five monster dunks, five blocks, matched a career-high with 36 points and enjoyed the overall kind of night that earns potential NBAers millions, while leading the top-seeded Bulldogs to an 83-71 rejection of Baylor Bears on Saturday.
''Is `Wow' the word you say?'' teammate Josh Perkins said. ''Dunking the ball, blocking shots. He just plays the right way.''
Because of it, Gonzaga (32-3) is into the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight time, the longest current streak in the country.
This second-round matchup in the West Region wasn't exactly a blowout, but wasn't quite a nail-biter, either. That doesn't mean it lacked entertainment.
Most of it centered on Clarke, the junior transfer from San Jose State, who started the fireworks with a windmill jam on a breakaway that gave Gonzaga an early 16-7 lead.
A few possessions later, Clarke took a bounce pass on the break from Perkins for a two-handed flush that had the Gonzaga kids in the Kennel going ga-ga .
Clark's final dunk of the first half came at the end of a 5-second clinic on how to deal with Baylor's floor-clogging 1-3-1 zone. Starting at the perimeter, all five Bulldogs touched the ball in the span of those 5 seconds; it ended with Killian Tillie's hook-flip to Clarke for a jam. It was as gorgeous a display of basketball as you'll see all year, and it put the Bulldogs ahead 35-16.
''That's players having great feel for the game and just playing,'' coach Mark Few said.
Ninth-seeded Baylor (20-14) scored the first 10 points of the second half to draw within six, and keep the game in range.
But Gonzaga held on, and when Clarke took a bounce pass from Perkins, who finished with six assists, it led to an easy bucket that put the Bulldogs up 13 with less than 4 minutes left.
Clarke also had eight rebounds and two steals. He lifted his season blocks total to 110 - now good for best in the nation. Baylor coach Scott Drew was even more impressed with another number that showed up on the stat sheet.
''He drew nine fouls,'' Drew said. ''There's a reason he's on the draft board.''
It was the defensive prowess that put him on many of those boards, though there's been a pretty large spread in opinion about exactly where he might land if he leaves after this season.
What he did on the offensive end in this game certainly won't hurt.
He went 15 for 18 from the floor, and most of the shots were of the high-percentage variety. Clarke is the team's two-time reigning dunk champion.
''If he'd made his free throws, he'd have had a 40-burger,'' Perkins said.
Or had a couple more dunks.
One missed chance came midway through the first half, when Geno Crandall saw Clarke get a sliver of daylight as he broke toward the rim. Crandall lobbed up an alley-oop pass. Only problem: It went in for a 3.
KISPERT'S EVENING
Few said it was Corey Kispert, not Clarke, who was Gonzaga's player of the game. Kispert made his first four shots and went 6 for 8 on the way to a 16-point night. He also got called for a technical for taunting with 8:06 left. The free throws and an ensuing three-point play helped the Bears draw within eight, but they never got closer.
FOUL TROUBLE
Baylor's Mark Vital played much bigger than the 6-5 he's listed at. He carved out space inside and finished with 17 points and eight rebounds, but was hampered by foul trouble. He picked up his fourth with 16 minutes remaining and fouled out in the final seconds.
NEXT UP
The Zags face fourth-seeded Florida State next Thursday in Anaheim, California. It's a rematch of their Sweet 16 game from last year, which the Seminoles won 75-60. Tillie missed that game with a hip injury
''They're a really good team,'' Kispert said. ''They're going to demand our best. But it's exactly what we wanted. We wouldn't want it any other way.''
---
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1st Half
BAYL
Bears
23
GONZ
Bulldogs
39
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Baylor
19:38
Makai Mason missed jump shot
19:36
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
19:24
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
19:22
Defensive rebound by Jared Butler
19:13
+3
Jared Butler made 3-pt. jump shot
3-0
18:49
+2
Josh Perkins made driving layup
3-2
18:30
Makai Mason missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
18:28
Offensive rebound by Baylor
18:20
+2
Makai Mason made fade-away jump shot
5-2
18:02
Personal foul on Mark Vital
17:57
Shooting foul on Jared Butler
17:57
Josh Perkins missed 1st of 2 free throws
17:57
+1
Josh Perkins made 2nd of 2 free throws
5-3
17:32
Mario Kegler missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
17:30
Offensive rebound by King McClure
17:26
Shot clock violation turnover on Baylor
17:16
Rui Hachimura missed layup, blocked by Mario Kegler
17:14
Defensive rebound by King McClure
16:46
Makai Mason missed 3-pt. jump shot
16:44
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
16:36
+2
Brandon Clarke made turnaround jump shot
5-5
16:10
+2
Jared Butler made reverse layup
7-5
15:49
Shooting foul on Mark Vital
15:49
+1
Rui Hachimura made 1st of 2 free throws
7-6
15:49
+1
Rui Hachimura made 2nd of 2 free throws
7-7
15:24
Bad pass turnover on Devonte Bandoo
15:12
Offensive foul on Rui Hachimura
15:12
Turnover on Rui Hachimura
14:50
Freddie Gillespie missed layup
14:48
Defensive rebound by Killian Tillie
14:38
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
7-9
14:19
Lost ball turnover on Devonte Bandoo, stolen by Brandon Clarke
14:13
+3
Corey Kispert made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Brandon Clarke
7-12
13:51
Makai Mason missed jump shot
13:49
Offensive rebound by Freddie Gillespie
13:38
Mario Kegler missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:36
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
13:30
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:28
Offensive rebound by Corey Kispert
13:27
+2
Corey Kispert made dunk
7-14
13:10
Bad pass turnover on Matthew Mayer, stolen by Geno Crandall
13:06
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Geno Crandall
7-16
12:43
Personal foul on Geno Crandall
12:35
+2
Jared Butler made layup
9-16
12:21
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:19
Offensive rebound by Corey Kispert
12:14
+3
Geno Crandall made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Corey Kispert
9-19
12:00
Jared Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:58
Defensive rebound by Killian Tillie
11:48
Killian Tillie missed jump shot
11:46
Defensive rebound by Mark Vital
11:45
Personal foul on Killian Tillie
11:17
Makai Mason missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:15
Defensive rebound by Killian Tillie
11:15
Jumpball received by Gonzaga
10:46
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup, assist by Josh Perkins
9-21
10:26
+2
Freddie Gillespie made layup, assist by Makai Mason
11-21
10:08
Brandon Clarke missed jump shot
10:06
Defensive rebound by Mark Vital
9:56
Personal foul on Killian Tillie
9:53
Bad pass turnover on Jared Butler, stolen by Geno Crandall
9:45
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Josh Perkins
11-23
9:26
Jared Butler missed layup
9:24
Offensive rebound by Mark Vital
9:23
Mark Vital missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
9:21
Defensive rebound by Geno Crandall
9:04
Bad pass turnover on Zach Norvell Jr., stolen by Devonte Bandoo
8:42
Devonte Bandoo missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:40
Offensive rebound by Mark Vital
8:30
+2
Devonte Bandoo made jump shot, assist by Flo Thamba
13-23
8:30
Flagrant foul on Flo Thamba
8:30
Josh Perkins missed 1st of 2 free throws
8:30
+1
Josh Perkins made 2nd of 2 free throws
13-24
8:09
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
8:07
Defensive rebound by Devonte Bandoo
7:41
+2
Jared Butler made turnaround jump shot
15-24
7:13
+2
Brandon Clarke made jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
15-26
6:45
Lost ball turnover on Devonte Bandoo, stolen by Brandon Clarke
6:44
Personal foul on Jared Butler
6:30
+2
Zach Norvell Jr. made layup
15-28
6:04
Mario Kegler missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:02
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
5:55
+3
Corey Kispert made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Geno Crandall
15-31
5:37
Makai Mason missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:35
Offensive rebound by Mark Vital
5:32
Jared Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot
5:30
Offensive rebound by Mark Vital
5:28
Shooting foul on Rui Hachimura
5:28
+1
Mark Vital made 1st of 2 free throws
16-31
5:28
Mark Vital missed 2nd of 2 free throws
5:28
Defensive rebound by Killian Tillie
5:10
Brandon Clarke missed layup
5:08
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
5:08
+2
Brandon Clarke made tip-in
16-33
4:44
Makai Mason missed jump shot
4:42
Defensive rebound by Gonzaga
4:42
Personal foul on Mario Kegler
4:32
+2
Brandon Clarke made alley-oop shot, assist by Killian Tillie
16-35
4:13
+2
Mark Vital made layup
18-35
3:54
Geno Crandall missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:52
Defensive rebound by Jared Butler
3:32
King McClure missed jump shot
3:30
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
3:23
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:21
Defensive rebound by Makai Mason
3:04
Jared Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:02
Defensive rebound by Killian Tillie
2:49
Offensive foul on Geno Crandall
2:49
Turnover on Geno Crandall
2:34
Shooting foul on Killian Tillie
2:34
Jared Butler missed 1st of 2 free throws
2:34
+1
Jared Butler made 2nd of 2 free throws
19-35
2:14
Corey Kispert missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:12
Offensive rebound by Gonzaga
2:12
Personal foul on Jared Butler
2:12
+1
Brandon Clarke made 1st of 2 free throws
19-36
2:12
+1
Brandon Clarke made 2nd of 2 free throws
19-37
1:58
Shooting foul on Jeremy Jones
1:58
+1
King McClure made 1st of 2 free throws
20-37
1:58
+1
King McClure made 2nd of 2 free throws
21-37
1:40
Corey Kispert missed 3-pt. jump shot
1:38
Offensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
1:15
Bad pass turnover on Josh Perkins, stolen by Freddie Gillespie
1:07
Makai Mason missed layup, blocked by Jeremy Jones
1:05
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
42.0
+2
Zach Norvell Jr. made layup
21-39
7.0
Personal foul on Zach Norvell Jr.
7.0
+1
Makai Mason made 1st of 2 free throws
22-39
7.0
+1
Makai Mason made 2nd of 2 free throws
23-39
2.0
Traveling violation turnover on Geno Crandall
0.0
End of period
2nd Half
BAYL
Bears
48
GONZ
Bulldogs
44
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:52
Mario Kegler missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
19:50
Offensive rebound by Baylor
19:39
+3
King McClure made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Makai Mason
26-39
19:27
Lost ball turnover on Rui Hachimura, stolen by Mark Vital
19:21
Personal foul on Corey Kispert
19:09
+3
Makai Mason made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Mario Kegler
29-39
19:01
Personal foul on King McClure
18:47
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
18:45
Defensive rebound by Jared Butler
18:36
+2
Mark Vital made layup, assist by Mario Kegler
31-39
18:21
Rui Hachimura missed layup
18:19
Defensive rebound by Mario Kegler
18:16
Makai Mason missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:14
Offensive rebound by Mark Vital
18:08
+2
Mark Vital made layup, assist by Makai Mason
33-39
17:53
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
33-41
17:37
Bad pass turnover on Jared Butler, stolen by Josh Perkins
17:28
Lost ball turnover on Zach Norvell Jr., stolen by Jared Butler
17:23
+2
Mark Vital made layup, assist by Jared Butler
35-41
17:04
+2
Josh Perkins made jump shot
35-43
16:36
+2
Mark Vital made layup, assist by Makai Mason
37-43
16:36
Shooting foul on Brandon Clarke
16:36
+1
Mark Vital made free throw
38-43
16:16
Personal foul on Mark Vital
16:12
Personal foul on Mark Vital
15:51
+2
Brandon Clarke made turnaround jump shot
38-45
15:32
Bad pass turnover on King McClure
15:14
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:12
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
15:08
Personal foul on Freddie Gillespie
14:55
Killian Tillie missed dunk
14:53
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
14:53
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk
38-47
14:30
Jared Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:28
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
14:14
Killian Tillie missed dunk, blocked by Flo Thamba
14:12
Offensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
14:09
Shooting foul on Mario Kegler
14:09
+1
Brandon Clarke made 1st of 2 free throws
38-48
14:09
+1
Brandon Clarke made 2nd of 2 free throws
38-49
13:58
Personal foul on Josh Perkins
13:50
Jared Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:48
Offensive rebound by King McClure
13:42
Mario Kegler missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
13:40
Offensive rebound by Mario Kegler
13:36
Shooting foul on Brandon Clarke
13:36
Mario Kegler missed 1st of 2 free throws
13:36
+1
Mario Kegler made 2nd of 2 free throws
39-49
13:13
+3
Corey Kispert made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Killian Tillie
39-52
12:48
+2
Freddie Gillespie made layup, assist by Makai Mason
41-52
12:35
+3
Zach Norvell Jr. made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
41-55
12:15
+3
Makai Mason made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by King McClure
44-55
11:50
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:46
Offensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
11:37
Killian Tillie missed jump shot
11:35
Defensive rebound by King McClure
11:09
Devonte Bandoo missed jump shot
11:07
Offensive rebound by Baylor
10:58
+2
Mark Vital made layup
46-55
10:58
Shooting foul on Corey Kispert
10:58
+1
Mark Vital made free throw
47-55
10:39
+3
Josh Perkins made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
47-58
10:20
King McClure missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:18
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
10:14
+2
Corey Kispert made layup, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
47-60
9:46
Bad pass turnover on Mario Kegler, stolen by Killian Tillie
9:34
Killian Tillie missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:32
Defensive rebound by King McClure
9:23
+2
Mario Kegler made driving layup
49-60
9:01
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup
49-62
8:42
Personal foul on Zach Norvell Jr.
8:33
Mark Vital missed layup
8:31
Defensive rebound by Killian Tillie
8:22
Brandon Clarke missed jump shot
8:20
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
8:17
+2
Killian Tillie made layup, assist by Brandon Clarke
49-64
8:08
Jared Butler missed layup, blocked by Corey Kispert
8:06
Defensive rebound by Gonzaga
8:06
Unsportsmanlike technical foul on Corey Kispert
8:06
+1
Makai Mason made 1st of 2 free throws
50-64
8:06
+1
Makai Mason made 2nd of 2 free throws
51-64
8:00
Bad pass turnover on Brandon Clarke
7:35
+2
King McClure made jump shot
53-64
7:35
Shooting foul on Killian Tillie
7:35
+1
King McClure made free throw
54-64
7:28
Rui Hachimura missed layup, blocked by King McClure
7:28
Offensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
7:28
Zach Norvell Jr. missed layup
7:26
Defensive rebound by Mark Vital
7:17
+2
Mark Vital made layup, assist by Mario Kegler
56-64
6:57
+2
Rui Hachimura made dunk
56-66
6:35
+2
King McClure made reverse layup
58-66
6:17
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup, assist by Josh Perkins
58-68
6:02
King McClure missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:00
Defensive rebound by Josh Perkins
5:45
+2
Rui Hachimura made alley-oop shot, assist by Josh Perkins
58-70
5:34
Personal foul on Josh Perkins
5:34
+1
Devonte Bandoo made 1st of 2 free throws
59-70
5:34
+1
Devonte Bandoo made 2nd of 2 free throws
60-70
5:32
Personal foul on Mario Kegler
5:18
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup
60-72
5:06
Offensive foul on Freddie Gillespie
5:06
Turnover on Freddie Gillespie
4:46
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:44
Defensive rebound by King McClure
4:44
Personal foul on Zach Norvell Jr.
4:44
+1
King McClure made 1st of 2 free throws
61-72
4:44
King McClure missed 2nd of 2 free throws
4:44
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
4:28
Bad pass turnover on Corey Kispert, stolen by King McClure
4:23
+2
King McClure made dunk
63-72
3:53
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
63-74
3:38
Jared Butler missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:36
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
3:19
Lost ball turnover on Rui Hachimura
3:12
Makai Mason missed layup
3:10
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
2:56
Personal foul on King McClure
2:56
Rui Hachimura missed free throw
2:56
Defensive rebound by Mario Kegler
2:48
King McClure missed layup
2:46
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
2:39
Bad pass turnover on Josh Perkins, stolen by Mark Vital
2:28
Shooting foul on Brandon Clarke
2:28
+1
Jared Butler made 1st of 2 free throws
64-74
2:28
Jared Butler missed 2nd of 2 free throws
2:28
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
2:05
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:03
Offensive rebound by Gonzaga
2:03
Personal foul on King McClure
2:03
+1
Brandon Clarke made 1st of 2 free throws
64-75
2:03
Brandon Clarke missed 2nd of 2 free throws
2:03
Defensive rebound by King McClure
1:53
+2
King McClure made layup
66-75
1:27
Josh Perkins missed layup
1:25
Offensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
1:25
Jumpball received by Gonzaga
1:06
+3
Corey Kispert made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Brandon Clarke