Strawther scores 23 as No. 6 Gonzaga beats Xavier 88-84
AP
Nov 27, 2022
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Julian Strawther scored 23 points, including 10 in the final 4:07, and No. 6 Gonzaga Bulldogs beat Xavier Musketeers 88-84 on Sunday in the third-place game of the Phil Knight Legacy men's tournament.
Each of Gonzaga's starters scored in double figures. Drew Timme and Anton Watson had 16 points apiece. Nolan Hickman finished with 14, and Rasir Bolton had 13 points and six assists.
''I tip my cap,'' Xavier coach Sean Miller said of Strawther. ''I watched him as a high schooler in Las Vegas and what he's become as a player is a testament to Gonzaga and their staff. And it's really a tribute to Julian.''
Timme struggled in the first half but his teammates continued to feed him.
''He was telling us `I'm struggling, carry me' and we said `No we're going to get you the ball in your spots' and I thought he did a great job,'' Strawther said.
Jack Nunge scored a game-high 25 points for Xavier (4-3), and Colby Jones had 22.
''I don't think we really shut Nunge down at the end, he just didn't get any shots,'' Gonzaga coach Mark Few said.
The Musketeers opened a 71-63 lead on KyKy Tandy's jumper with 6:21 to go. But the Bulldogs (5-2) responded with an 8-0 run.
Timme's two foul shots tied it at 71 with 4:47 remaining.
The teams exchanged leads several times in the final five minutes.
Strawther's 3 put Gonzaga back in front at 76-75 with 3:18 to go. Watson then converted a floater, and Strawther made another 3 to make it 81-75 with 1:39 left.
''Our inability to get rebounds and our inability to get key stops plagues us against this kind of competition,'' Miller said. ''We can get through games in November playing against others and still win, but not here against the teams we just played. You get exposed if you can't defend.''
BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: Ball movement was key for Gonzaga's offense. Gonzaga had 23 assists on 31 made baskets compared to only 17 assists for Xavier.
Xavier: Guard Adam Kunkel was scratched after suffering a head injury.
UP NEXT
Gonzaga: Face Baylor on Friday in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Xavier: Hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday.
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1st Half
XAV
Musketeers
34
GONZ
Bulldogs
40
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jack Nunge vs. Drew Timme (Rasir Bolton gains possession)
19:28
Drew Timme misses three point jump shot
19:26
Souley Boum defensive rebound
19:22
+2
Zach Freemantle makes two point layup
2-0
19:07
Drew Timme misses two point layup
19:05
Jack Nunge defensive rebound
18:59
KyKy Tandy misses three point jump shot
18:57
Colby Jones offensive rebound
18:39
Zach Freemantle misses two point layup
18:37
Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
18:32
+3
Julian Strawther makes three point jump shot (Rasir Bolton assists)
2-3
18:20
Souley Boum misses two point layup
18:18
Drew Timme defensive rebound
18:12
Rasir Bolton misses two point layup
18:10
Souley Boum defensive rebound
18:05
KyKy Tandy misses two point layup
18:03
Julian Strawther defensive rebound
17:53
+2
Drew Timme makes two point jump shot (Julian Strawther assists)
2-5
17:23
Colby Jones turnover (Julian Strawther steals)
17:16
+2
Anton Watson makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists)
2-7
16:58
Zach Freemantle misses two point layup
16:56
Anton Watson defensive rebound
16:40
+2
Drew Timme makes two point layup
2-9
16:29
Rasir Bolton personal foul (Souley Boum draws the foul)
16:18
+2
Zach Freemantle makes two point layup (Colby Jones assists)
4-9
16:00
+2
Anton Watson makes two point dunk (Drew Timme assists)
4-11
15:46
Souley Boum misses two point layup
15:44
Anton Watson defensive rebound
15:37
Drew Timme misses two point layup
15:35
Jack Nunge defensive rebound
15:28
Jack Nunge turnover (lost ball)
15:28
TV timeout
15:19
Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
15:17
Bulldogs offensive rebound
15:02
Julian Strawther misses two point jump shot
15:00
Julian Strawther offensive rebound
14:58
+3
Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Julian Strawther assists)
4-14
14:34
Zach Freemantle misses two point layup
14:32
Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
14:21
Ben Gregg offensive foul (Souley Boum draws the foul)
14:21
Ben Gregg turnover (offensive foul)
14:03
Colby Jones misses two point jump shot
14:01
Anton Watson defensive rebound
13:54
Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
13:52
Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
13:45
Desmond Claude turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals)
13:34
Anton Watson misses three point jump shot
13:32
Souley Boum defensive rebound
13:24
Souley Boum misses two point jump shot
13:22
Ben Gregg defensive rebound
13:10
Julian Strawther misses two point jump shot
13:08
Zach Freemantle defensive rebound
13:05
Julian Strawther shooting foul (Dieonte Miles draws the foul)
13:05
Dieonte Miles misses regular free throw 1 of 2
13:05
Musketeers offensive rebound
13:05
Dieonte Miles misses regular free throw 2 of 2
13:05
Drew Timme defensive rebound
12:46
Drew Timme turnover (lost ball) (Dieonte Miles steals)
12:32
Jack Nunge misses three point jump shot
12:30
Julian Strawther defensive rebound
12:02
+3
Hunter Sallis makes three point jump shot (Drew Timme assists)
4-17
11:49
Ben Gregg blocks Desmond Claude's two point layup
11:47
Ben Gregg defensive rebound
11:34
Julian Strawther misses two point jump shot
11:32
Jerome Hunter defensive rebound
11:25
+2
Jack Nunge makes two point layup (Jerome Hunter assists)
6-17
11:25
Ben Gregg shooting foul (Jack Nunge draws the foul)
11:25
TV timeout
11:25
+1
Jack Nunge makes regular free throw 1 of 1
7-17
11:02
Rasir Bolton turnover (lost ball) (Colby Jones steals)
10:55
+3
Colby Jones makes three point jump shot (Kam Craft assists)
10-17
10:47
Hunter Sallis turnover (lost ball)
10:22
Jack Nunge misses two point layup
10:20
Jack Nunge offensive rebound
10:18
Jack Nunge misses two point layup
10:16
Bulldogs defensive rebound
10:00
+2
Rasir Bolton makes two point jump shot
10-19
9:50
+2
Jack Nunge makes two point dunk (Colby Jones assists)
12-19
9:38
+2
Rasir Bolton makes two point jump shot (Anton Watson assists)
12-21
9:18
+2
Kam Craft makes two point layup (Jack Nunge assists)
14-21
9:01
Malachi Smith misses two point jump shot
8:59
Jack Nunge defensive rebound
8:51
Kam Craft turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals)
8:48
Anton Watson offensive foul
8:48
Anton Watson turnover (offensive foul)
8:38
+2
Zach Freemantle makes two point layup
16-21
8:21
Drew Timme misses two point jump shot
8:19
Kam Craft defensive rebound
8:19
Hunter Sallis personal foul (Jack Nunge draws the foul)
8:04
Zach Freemantle misses two point jump shot
8:02
Anton Watson defensive rebound
8:00
Souley Boum personal foul (Rasir Bolton draws the foul)
7:56
Colby Jones personal foul
7:56
TV timeout
7:50
Julian Strawther misses three point jump shot
7:48
Nolan Hickman offensive rebound
7:43
KyKy Tandy shooting foul (Rasir Bolton draws the foul)