After experiencing two straight closer-than-expected West Coast Conference games, the Gonzaga Bulldogs made sure there would be no such drama on Thursday against visiting Loyola Marymount.
The Zags scored the first 20 points of the game and were never challenged in the slightest by a shell shocked Lions team that seemed to face the brunt of some Bulldogs frustration. Gonzaga won going away, 80-51, and notched its 39th consecutive home victory.
Kyle Wiltjer scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the way for #3 Gonzaga. Przemek Karnowski and Byron Wesley each tallied 11 points while Domantas Sabonis had 10 and grabbed 8 boards for the dominant Bulldogs. Point guard Kevin Pangos added 9 points - on three shots behind the arc - and dished out 8 assists to help keep the Zags out in front.
After spending several weeks in the #2 position, the Zags slipped a spot to third after struggling against subpar WCC foes Santa Clara and San Francisco last week, leaving many to wonder if they are overrated on the national scene.
Thursday may have been a notice served to the nation.
"We needed it after the last few games went to the wire," said Gonzaga guard Gary Bell Jr afterwards. "We needed this."
There has indeed been a fair amount of criticism in recent years launched in the Bulldogs’ direction after superior seasons led to flaming disasters in the NCAA Tournament. This group of Zags seems better constructed to withstand both the off-court naysayers and the on-court challenges presented to them.
No matter what, Gonzaga just focuses on basketball.
"We really concentrated on defense in the first half," Karnowski said about their gametime execution. "Basically, everything the coaches talked about we did in the first half.”
LMU could get nothing going on either end of the floor against the bigger and better Bulldogs and managed only 15 first half points on 12% shooting while allowing Gonzaga to make nearly 60% of its shot attempts. The Lions were able to match the Zags stride-for-stride in the second half, but a 44-15 halftime deficit was too much to even try to overcome.
Gonzaga, 25-1 (13-0 in WCC play) will look to run the conference table with upcoming matchups with Pepperdine and Pacific. Later this month, the Zags will face off against top WCC foes St. Mary’s and BYU. Both of those games will go far towards preparing them for NCAA Tournament competition - something they sorely need as March draws nearer.
As for now, Gonzaga can rest assured that they are the cream of the crop in the WCC - and possibly even in the entire Western United States.
