No. 2 Gonzaga delivered a haymaker in the first half of its showdown with No. 4 Kentucky on Sunday and then held on late for a 88-72 victory in the first meeting between the powers in 20 years. A packed house at the off-campus Spokane Arena helped spur the Zags to a 41-25 halftime lead as the trio of Rasir Bolton, Julian Strawther and Drew Timme fueled a huge early-season win for Gonzaga.
Kentucky star center Oscar Tshiebwe countered with 20 points and 15 rebounds and helped the Wildcats close within five points on multiple occasions in the second half. But in a battle of potential national player of the year candidates, Timme came out on top. The senior forward scored 22 points and avoided the foul trouble which plagued Tshiebwe for much of the game.
Both teams needed a win after suffering losses in marquee matchups over the past week. The Bulldogs lost 93-74 at No. 12 Texas on Wednesday while Kentucky dropped an 86-77 double-overtime thriller to Michigan State on Tuesday. The Wildcats play North Florida and Bellarmine to close out November before taking on Michigan in London on Dec. 4 in what will mark their third chance to notch a marquee win this season.
Gonzaga heads to the Phil Knight Legacy event this week as one of the headliners in a stacked field. The Bulldogs will play either Purdue or West Virginia in their second-round game as part of what may arguably be the nation's toughest nonconference slate.
While the Bulldogs may drop in the new AP poll because of their loss at Texas, they looked every bit the part of a national contender on Sunday while shooting 56% from the floor and withstanding a valiant rally from a Kentucky squad loaded with talent.
Gonzaga's Bolton answers the bell
Kentucky shot 0 for 10 from 3-point range in the first half, but the Wildcats hit 6 of 15 tries from beyond the arc in the second half and used stingy defense to get back in the game. If the Zags were going to hold on, they needed some help from their guards. Bolton delivered in a big way as the senior scored 19 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and had 10 of the Bulldogs' final 12.
Timme is obviously Gonzaga's star, and Strawther is a quality sidekick on the wing, but the Bulldogs' pecking order in the backcourt was a point of uncertainty entering the season. With sophomores Nolan Hickman and Hunter Sallis taking on larger roles and Malachi Smith entering as transfer from Chattanooga, the Zags have plenty of depth at the position but no clear focal point. It could depend on the opponent and the night who stars for the Zags in the backcourt, but Bolton's offensive explosion against a quality opponent is strong evidence he can be an alpha guard.
Zags' Strawther looking like an NBA Draft pick
Strawther faced a decision after averaging 11.6 points and 5.4 rebounds as a sophomore last season. Should the versatile 6-foot-7 wing head to the professional ranks or return for another season at Gonzaga? Early on, it looks like he made the right choice. With NBA scouts surely paying attention in a game crawling with NBA prospects, Strawther stood out.
In particular, Strawther's ability to score at all three levels offensively has been on display this season. Against the Wildcats, he hit 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point range, showed his mid-range stroke and hit 7 of 7 free throws while having success around the rim. Though Strawther committed five turnovers, that was partially the byproduct of the fact that he played all 40 minutes.
Strawther is a matchup problem for many opponents and has the type of frame and game that is attractive in the modern NBA. That will serve him well in the years to come. But for now, Gonzaga fans should be thrilled with his decision to return, because he looks like the type of player who can help the Bulldogs make another deep NCAA Tournament run.
Kentucky's Wallace blossoms
Speaking of NBA Draft prospects, Kentucky's tandem of Cason Wallace and Jacob Toppin looked the part in the second half. After combining to shoot 2 of 9 from the floor in the first half, the duo scored 12 points each in the second half to combine for 24 of the Wildcats' 47 points after halftime. Toppin never found his outside stroke, which will be pivotal to his NBA future, but Wallace did while flashing the two-way chops that made him 247Sports' No. 5 overall prospect in the Class of 2022.
Wallace finished with 14 points on 5 of 9 shooting and had four steals after collecting eight steals against Michigan State on Tuesday. In total, the 6-4 Wallace is averaging 3.4 steals and shooting 53.3% from 3-point range five games into his college career. Kentucky's 3-2 start may not be what Wildcats fans envisioned, but Wallace's play should be considered a silver lining to the season's first five games.
