Ben Gregg scores career-high 22 points as No. 24 Gonzaga rolls past San Diego 101-74
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Ben Gregg had a career-high 22 points, Graham Ike scored 15 of his 19 points during a big first half, and No. 24 Gonzaga beat San Diego 101-74 on Saturday night.
Ike and Nolan Hickman sparked a 55-point first half from the Zags (11-4, 2-0 WCC) and the contributions from Gregg allowed most of Gonzaga’s starters to call it an early night against the short-handed Toreros.
“It feels good. I feel like I’ve had a pretty mediocre beginning to the season so far, so to see some more shots go in tonight felt good and now just building on that, getting more consistent with it and bringing it every game,” Gregg said. “It’s fun to have those type of nights.”
Ike was 8 of 12 shooting, grabbed eight rebounds and played just 21 minutes. Hickman also scored 15 points in the first half and finished with 17, including three 3-pointers.
Gregg’s previous career high was 18 points, accomplished twice and the last time coming against San Diego last season. Ryan Nembhard added 18 points and the Zags shot 43.5% on 3-pointers.
Gregg has been the first player off the bench for Gonzaga for most of the season and had scored in double figures in only four of the first 14 games. But Gregg's performance against San Diego was a reminder of what he can provide to help Gonzaga's scoring depth.
“That’s what he does. That’s who Ben Gregg is,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “We’re lucky to have him. He does buy in and he understands how important it is for him to do that.”
Gonzaga was terrific in the first 20 minutes and led 55-35 at halftime. The Zags shot 60% in the first half, made 5 of 11 3-pointers and turned 13 San Diego turnovers into 19 points in building the big early lead. The Zags started 10 of 14 from the field to begin the game, then relied on Ike for 11 straight points later in the half to take a 45-29 lead.
The 55 points for Gonzaga was the second-highest total this season in the first half against a Division I opponent. The Zags scored 59 points in the first half against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and had 63 against NAIA school Eastern Oregon in early November.
Deuce Turner led San Diego (10-7, 0-2) with 24 points, but the Toreros were without second leading scorer Wayne McKinney III after suffering a leg injury in Thursday’s loss to Saint Mary’s.
“I think our team will learn from this experience, but there's no doubt that Wayne McKinney is the engine of our team and we missed him tonight,” San Diego coach Steve Lavin said.
Kevin Patton Jr. added 16 points and Steven Jamerson II had 13 points and nine rebounds for San Diego.
BIG PICTURE
San Diego: Turnovers were at the core of the problems for the Toreros. San Diego finished with 19 turnovers that led to 27 points for Gonzaga.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs wore throwback uniforms from 1999 when Gonzaga made its first trip to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The 25th anniversary of that team was recognized over a couple days of events including players from that team being honored during the game.
UP NEXT
San Diego: The Toreros host San Francisco next Thursday.
Gonzaga: The Zags play three straight on the road beginning next Thursday at Santa Clara.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Steven Jamerson II vs. Graham Ike (Nolan Hickman gains possession) | |||
19:52 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point dunk (Nolan Hickman assists) | 0-2 | |
19:17 | Toreros turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
19:04 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists) | 0-4 | |
18:54 | Dragos Lungu turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Nembhard steals) | |||
18:48 | Dusty Stromer turnover (lost ball) (Kevin Patton Jr. steals) | |||
18:33 | +2 | Steven Jamerson II makes two point jump shot | 2-4 | |
18:21 | +3 | Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 2-7 | |
17:54 | Anton Watson shooting foul (Steven Jamerson II draws the foul) | |||
17:54 | +1 | Steven Jamerson II makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 3-7 | |
17:54 | Steven Jamerson II misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
17:54 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
17:39 | Graham Ike misses two point dunk | |||
17:37 | Kevin Patton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
17:29 | +2 | Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point jump shot | 5-7 | |
17:28 | Steven Jamerson II personal foul | |||
17:23 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
17:21 | Kevin Patton Jr. defensive rebound | |||
17:03 | PJ Hayes misses two point layup | |||
17:01 | Steven Jamerson II offensive rebound | |||
16:57 | +2 | Steven Jamerson II makes two point layup | 7-7 | |
16:55 | PJ Hayes personal foul | |||
16:47 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Dusty Stromer assists) | 7-10 | |
16:33 | +3 | Deuce Turner makes three point jump shot (Dragos Lungu assists) | 10-10 | |
16:20 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point turnaround jump shot | 10-12 | |
16:01 | Deuce Turner misses two point jump shot | |||
15:59 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
15:49 | Graham Ike misses two point layup | |||
15:47 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
15:43 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup | 10-14 | |
15:28 | Steven Jamerson II misses two point jump shot | |||
15:27 | Toreros offensive rebound | |||
15:27 | TV timeout | |||
15:19 | +3 | PJ Hayes makes three point jump shot (Jimmy Oladokun Jr. assists) | 13-14 | |
15:00 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
14:58 | Anton Watson offensive rebound | |||
14:52 | Jimmy Oladokun Jr. shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul) | |||
14:52 | Graham Ike misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
14:52 | Graham Ike misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
14:52 | PJ Hayes defensive rebound | |||
14:46 | Deuce Turner turnover (lost ball) (Ben Gregg steals) | |||
14:41 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point dunk | 13-16 | |
14:24 | Jimmy Oladokun Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
14:22 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
14:01 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 13-19 | |
13:38 | Dusty Stromer personal foul | |||
13:36 | Deuce Turner turnover (lost ball) (Ben Gregg steals) | |||
13:29 | PJ Hayes personal foul | |||
13:28 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 13-21 | |
13:03 | Dragos Lungu turnover (bad pass) | |||
12:43 | +2 | Braden Huff makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 13-23 | |
12:32 | Kevin Patton Jr. turnover (traveling) | |||
12:15 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
12:12 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
12:04 | Ben Gregg misses two point jump shot | |||
12:02 | Steven Jamerson II defensive rebound | |||
11:54 | Dragos Lungu misses two point layup | |||
11:52 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
11:39 | Nolan Hickman turnover (traveling) | |||
11:39 | TV timeout | |||
11:30 | Deven Dahlke turnover (lost ball) (Ben Gregg steals) | |||
11:26 | Emmanuel Callas shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul) | |||
11:26 | +1 | Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 13-24 | |
11:26 | +1 | Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 13-25 | |
11:08 | +2 | PJ Hayes makes two point layup (Kevin Patton Jr. assists) | 15-25 | |
10:51 | Braden Huff misses three point jump shot | |||
10:49 | PJ Hayes defensive rebound | |||
10:38 | Kevin Patton Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
10:36 | Steven Jamerson II offensive rebound | |||
10:31 | Deuce Turner misses three point jump shot | |||
10:29 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
10:26 | Emmanuel Callas shooting foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
10:26 | +1 | Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-26 | |
10:26 | +1 | Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-27 | |
10:12 | +3 | PJ Hayes makes three point jump shot (Deuce Turner assists) | 18-27 | |
9:52 | +3 | Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot (Braden Huff assists) | 18-30 | |
9:34 | Deuce Turner misses three point jump shot | |||
9:32 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
9:15 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
9:13 | Steven Jamerson II defensive rebound | |||
9:00 | Braden Huff blocks Deuce Turner's two point layup | |||
8:58 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
8:54 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup | 18-32 | |
8:53 | Toreros 30 second timeout | |||
8:41 | Kevin Patton Jr. turnover (bad pass) | |||
8:21 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point running jump shot | 18-34 | |
8:09 | Steven Jamerson II misses two point jump shot | |||
8:07 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
8:01 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists) | 18-36 | |
7:36 | +2 | Steven Jamerson II makes two point layup (Dragos Lungu assists) | 20-36 | |
7:36 | Ryan Nembhard shooting foul (Steven Jamerson II draws the foul) | |||
7:36 | TV timeout | |||
7:36 | Steven Jamerson II misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:36 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
7:19 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Anton Watson assists) | 20-38 | |
7:19 | Steven Jamerson II shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul) | |||
7:19 | +1 | Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 20-39 | |
6:51 | Jimmy Oladokun Jr. misses two point layup | |||
6:49 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
6:39 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
6:37 | Jimmy Oladokun Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Graham Ike personal foul | |||
6:12 | +3 | Deven Dahlke makes three point jump shot (Deuce Turner assists) | 23-39 | |
6:00 | Jimmy Oladokun Jr. blocks Graham Ike's two point layup | |||
5:58 | Toreros defensive rebound | |||
5:34 | +2 | Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point jump shot | 25-39 | |
5:23 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists) | 25-41 | |
5:12 | PJ Hayes misses three point jump shot | |||
5:10 | Jimmy Oladokun Jr. offensive rebound | |||
5:10 | Jump ball. (Toreros gains possession) | |||
5:01 | Nolan Hickman shooting foul (Deuce Turner draws the foul) | |||
5:01 | +1 | Deuce Turner makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 26-41 | |
5:01 | +1 | Deuce Turner makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 27-41 | |
4:51 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
4:49 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
4:46 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup | 27-43 | |
4:31 | Graham Ike blocks Jimmy Oladokun Jr.'s two point layup | |||
4:29 | Nolan Hickman defensive rebound | |||
4:20 | Dusty Stromer misses two point layup | |||
4:18 | Deuce Turner defensive rebound | |||
4:15 | +2 | Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point layup (Deuce Turner assists) | 29-43 | |
3:56 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists) | 29-45 | |
3:51 | Toreros technical foul | |||
3:51 | Toreros turnover | |||
3:51 | TV timeout | |||
3:51 | Nolan Hickman misses technical free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:51 | Nolan Hickman misses technical free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:32 | +2 | Kevin Patton Jr. makes two point layup (Steven Jamerson II assists) | 31-45 | |
3:05 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ben Gregg assists) | 31-48 | |
2:50 | Keyon Kensie turnover (bad pass) (Nolan Hickman steals) | |||
2:47 | Keyon Kensie shooting foul (Nolan Hickman draws the foul) | |||
2:47 | +1 | Nolan Hickman makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-49 | |
2:47 | +1 | Nolan Hickman makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-50 | |
2:40 | Keyon Kensie misses two point layup | |||
2:36 | Toreros offensive rebound | |||
2:29 | Deuce Turner turnover (lost ball) (Braden Huff steals) | |||
2:21 | Dragos Lungu shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
2:21 | +1 | Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-51 | |
2:21 | Anton Watson misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
2:21 | Keyon Kensie defensive rebound | |||
2:12 | Ben Gregg blocks Keyon Kensie's two point layup | |||
2:10 | Toreros offensive rebound | |||
2:06 | PJ Hayes turnover (lost ball) (Nolan Hickman steals) | |||
2:00 | +2 | Nolan Hickman makes two point layup | 31-53 | |
1:52 | Steven Jamerson II turnover (Ben Gregg steals) | |||
1:43 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point layup | 31-55 | |
1:34 | Steven Jamerson II misses two point dunk | |||
1:32 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
1:27 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
1:25 | PJ Hayes defensive rebound | |||
1:19 | Steven Jamerson II misses two point jump shot | |||
1:17 | Kevin Patton Jr. offensive rebound | |||
1:11 | Keyon Kensie misses two point jump shot | |||
1:09 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
0:55 | Ryan Nembhard turnover (Keyon Kensie steals) | |||
0:55 | Ryan Nembhard personal foul | |||
0:55 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
0:44 | +2 | Deuce Turner makes two point jump shot | 33-55 | |
0:25 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
0:23 | Dragos Lungu defensive rebound | |||
0:08 | +2 | Steven Jamerson II makes two point dunk (Dragos Lungu assists) | 35-55 | |
0:00 | End of period |