Check back in with VAVEL USA at 3:00 am ET when the latest VAVEL Bracketology will be posted. Until then, I am Matthew Evans saying good night!
The VAVEL USA Player of the Game is Kyle Collinsworth who scored 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the win that could boost BYU into the NCAA Tournament.
Final Score: BYU 73, Gonzaga 70
2nd (0:00): Kyle Wiltjer with a good look at the buzzer but the shot is hits the inside of the rim and out.
2nd (0:01): Timeout BYU
2nd (0:01): The first shot is good. The second shot is good! 73-70 BYU
2nd (0:03): The second shot is good! 71-70 BYU. Ryan Andrus is fouled quickly.
2nd (0:03): Timeout Gonzaga
2nd (0:03): Here come all of the big men into the game.
2nd (0:03): The first shot is good!
2nd (0:03): McClellan is fouled bringing the ball up the court.
2nd (0:06): The second shot is missed!
This is a huge free throw upcoming from Tyler Haws.
2nd (0:06): Haws is fouled on the in-bounds play. His first shot is missed. Timeout Gonzaga.
2nd (0:08): The first free throw attempt is good. The second shot is good. 71-68 BYU
2nd (0:08): Collinsworth fouls out on the other end. Draginis was trying to keep the ball in bounds but he is fouled.
2nd (0:18): Collinsworth with the putback on the miss. 71-66 BYU
2nd (0:50): Wesley drives to the basket and earns a foul. He will shoot two. The first shot is good. The second shot is good. 69-66 BYU
2nd (1:10): SHOT CLOCK VIOLATION! A huge lapse from the BYU Cougars!
2nd (1:23): Timeout BYU. Gonzaga could use a big defensive stop here.
2nd (1:48): Gary Bell Jr with the big three point from straight away. 69-64 BYU
2nd (2:30): Gonzaga is pressing full court now.
2nd (2:52): Collinsworth with a great ply. He goes to the rack strong against Sabonis and earns the hoop and the foul. The free throw is good. 69-61 BYU
2nd (3:34): Wesley gets a tough bucket down low. 66-61 BYU
2nd (3:56): The first free throw is missed. The second is good. 66-59 BYU
Media Timeout: BYU 65, Gonzaga 59
2nd (3:56): Wiltjer misses a wide open three. Halford is fouled while putting up a shot that goes in and out. He will get two free throws after the final media timeout.
2nd (4:42): Sabonis draws another foul, this time on Andrus. His first shot is good. The second shot is no good. 65-59 BYU
2nd (5:02): Sabonis is fouled as he goes to the basket, his layup is GOOD! He goes to the line where his shot is missed! 65-58 BYU
2nd (5:20): Collinsworth draws a foul on the box out after a missed shot from Haws. His first free throw attempt is good. The second attempt is missed. 65-56 BYU
2nd (5:41): Sabonis is fouled on the drive to the bucket. He will go to the line for two. The first shot is good. The second shot is good. 64-56 BYU
2nd (6:03): Halford misses a shot but Collinsworth gets the offensive rebound and the putback. 64-54 BYU. Timeout Gonzaga.
2nd (6:41): BLOCK! Kaufusi with a huge swat on Sabonis!
2nd (7:00): Kaufusi goes to the line after a foul is called on Sabonis. His first shot is missed. They second shot is missed.
2nd (7:35): Halford with a huge basket before Wesley earns a hoop and a harm on the other end. His free throw is good. 62-54 BYU
2nd (7:53): Wesley ghits the first free throw. His second attempt is no good. 60-51 BYU
Media Timeout: BYU 60, Gonzaga 50
2nd (8:02); Haws with the difficult shot on the spin move. 60-50 BYU
2nd (8:18): Pangos misses the runner but there is a foul called on the rebound. Dranginis goes to the line where he makes the first. The second is no good. 58-50 BYU
2nd (8:37): Gary Bell Jr picks up his fourth foul. Tyler Haws to the line. His first shot is good. The second is missed. 58-49 BYU
2nd (8:49): McClellan with the bucket on the fast break. Timeout BYU. 57-49 BYU
2nd (9:21): Sabonis is fouled on the pick-and-roll. He will go to the line for a one-and-one but a lane violation ends that threat.
2nd (9:49): McClellan turns the ball over and BYU has a chance to extend this big lead.
2nd (10:03): Haws makes the front end of the one-and-one. His second shot is good. 57-47 BYU
2nd (10:27): Haws hits his shot on the other end. Wiltjer airballs a three point on the other end. 55-47 BYU
2nd (10:41): Sabonis goes to the line after the foul from Collinsworth. His first shot is missed! Wow.
2nd (11:13): Pangos is forced to take a shot late in the shot clock. He misses everything. Byron Wesley is called for his fourth foul on the other end.
Media Timeout: BYU 53, Gonzaga 47
2nd (11:54): A foul called under the basket and that takes us to the media timeout.
2nd (12:15): Chase Fischer with the drive and the shot off the glass. Timeout Gonzaga. 53-47 BYU
2nd (12:39): Wesley with the drive and the kiss off the glass. 51-47 BYU
2nd (13:02): Kaufusi with a jumper from the elbow. 51-45 BYU
2nd (13:20): Karnowski cannot hit from short range and Sabonis is called for an over the back foul.
2nd (13:51): Wesley with the bucket going up and under on the other side. 49-45 BYU
2nd (14:46): Halford with another big bucket. He is having a heck of a game. 49-43 BYU
2nd (15:13): Karnowski uses his big frame to carve out space in the post. His hook shot is good. 47-43 BYU
2nd (15:53): Kaufusi makes the first free throw. He makes the second as well. 47-41 BYU
2nd (15:53): Great spacing by the BYU offense. Kaufusi will go to the line after the media timeout. 45-41 BYU
2nd (16:33): Byron Wesley misses the first free throw. His second is good. 45-41 BYU
2nd (16:45): Chase Fischer for three on the transition. 45-40 BYU
2nd (17:22): Collinsworth draws a foul. He hits the first free throw. His second attempt is short. 42-40 BYU
2nd (18:15): Collinsworth with the bucket for BYU. Karnowski answers on the other end. 41-40 BYU
2nd (18:39): Wesley with the floater off the glass. 39-38 BYU
2nd (19:01): DUNK! AND ONE! Corbin Kaufusi with the jam and the free throw to give BYU the lead. 39-36 BYU
2nd (19:13): Missed shots on both ends as we start the second half. Karnowski draws and an early foul and then gets blocked by Corbin Kaufusi.
2nd (20:00): Gonzaga starts with the ball.
This has been a very exciting game so far at the Kennel. Gonzaga needs to avoid another slow start to the half. After what we've seen so far, it is still anybodys game.
We will be back in just a moment.
Halftime: BYU 36, Gonzaga 36
1st (0:04): Pangos with a fadeaway to tie the game at halftime. The three-quarter court shot is just wide. 36-36
1st (0:41): Eric McClellan with the triple. 36-34 BYU
1st (1:15): BYU with a shot clock violation
1st (2:40): Collinsworth and Wiltjer exchange buckets. 36-31 BYU
1st (2:54): Sabonis misses the first. makes the second. 34-29 BYU
1st (3:07): McClellan has a shot blocked. What a block that was. Sabonis draws a foul but cannot make the bucket. He goes to the line for two.
1st (3:40): Karnowski draws the foul on Worthington.
1st (3:58): Anson Wilder goes to the line and makes one of two. Haws with the rebound but travels before he puts the shot up. 34-28 BYU
Media Timeout: BYU 33, Gonzaga 28
1st (3:58): A blocking foul called on Gary Bell Jr. Free throws coming after the media timeout.
1st (4:29): Gary Bell Jr falls on the loose ball and draws a foul. It will be Gonzaga ball.
1st (5:11): DUNK! Kyle Collinsworth drives down the baseline and finishes with the dunk. 33-28 BYU
1st (5:36): Karnowski finishes again on the pick and roll. 31-28 BYU
1st (6:09): Collinsworth with the layup after a steal. 31-26 BYU
1st (6:33): Tyler Haws is fouled shooting. He makes the first shot. The second is missed. 29-26 BYU
1st (6:59): Collinsworth hits the first of his free throws. The second is missed. 28-26 BYU
Media Timeout: BYU 27, Gonzaga 26
1st (6:59): Collinsworth misses a layup on the fast break but he is fouled on the put back.
1st (7:37): Kyle Wiltjer gets on the board with a nice kiss off the glass. 27-26 BYU
1st (8:10): Silas Melson gets the friendly bounce on the three point attempt. 27-24 BYU
1st (8:45): Kyle Dranginis spots up for three and it is answered by Chase Fischer. 27-21 BYU
1st (9:18): Pangos feeds Karnowski on the pick-and-roll. Karnowski finishes. 24-18 BYU
1st (9:37): HALFORD! Skyler Halford hits a three and is fouled. A chance for the four point play. His free throw is good. 24-16 BYU
1st (10:19): Anson Winder for three after another block. Pangos answers on the other end 20-16 BYU
1st (11:20): BLOCK! Sabonis with the block. Dranginis with the teardrop on offense. 17-13 BYU
Media Timeout: BYU 17, Gonzaga 11
1st (12:06): Halford for three, he is heating up. 17-11 BYU
1st (12:30): Sabonis with a spin move to the bucket and BYU calls a timeout. 14-11 BYU
1st (12:48): Ryan Andrus at the line for two. He misses both of the shots.
1st (12:55): Sabonis with a power move to the bucket. 14-9 BYU
1st (13:39): Frank Bartley answers with a three of his own. Domantas Sabonis answers with a bucket on the other end. 14-7 BYU
1st (14:23): Gary Bell Jr misses a three pointer short. Halford with a layup on one end, Kevin Pangos answers with a three. 11-5 BYU
Media Timeout: BYU 9, Gonzaga 2
1st (14:42): Karnowski is fouled after a rebound on defense. That takes us to the first media timeout.
1st (14:55): Karnowski with a big block on the defensive end but he cannot convert a layup on the other end.
1st (15:41): Tyler Haws takes the ball to the bucket for two points. 9-2 BYU
1st (16:14): Chase Fischer with a floater over Karnowski. 7-2 BYU
1st (17:03): Timeout Gonzaga
1st (17:21): BLOCK! Josh Sharp rejects Kevin Pangos on the drive attempt.
1st (17:50): Some great movement from BYU on offense. Kyle Collinsworth with the bucket after a few misses. 5-2 BYU
1st (18:16): Karnowski makes a move to the basket but his layup rolls out.
1st (18:56): Byron Wesley finds himself in the right place at the right time for a jumper. 3-2 BYU
1st (19:29): An early turnover as Kevin Pangos throws the ball away. Chase Fischer nails a long distance three. 3-0 BYU
1st (20:00): Gonzaga wins the tip and we are underway.
Wow! Santa Clara beats Saint Mary's 71-70! That opens up the door for BYU to earn the #2 seed in the West Coast Conference Tournament with a win tonight.
It is a one-point game at Santa Clara. Saint Mary's still on top with 22 seconds left.
A big defensive play from Boise State to maintain possession with a 9 point lead and 57 seconds left.
Boise State out to an 8-point lead with 1:42 left.
Both of the 8:00 pm ET games we are watching are very good going down the stretch. Boise State is up by 6 with 2:35 left. Saint Mary's and Santa Clara are tied at 67 with 2:12 left.
Saint Mary's is still in a close one. 66-63 Gaels with 4:15 remaining.
The battle for the Pac-12 regular season title could be decided tonight as the Arizona Wildcats are playing the Utah Utes. Arizona would hold a two-game lead if they win. They currently lead 19-17 in the first half.
A big game on ESPN2 before our game as the Boise State Broncos lead San Diego State 44-41 with 6:36 left. A Boise State win would likely put them into the next VAVEL Bracketology piece. They are hovering on the outside looking in right now.
Saint Mary's leads Santa Clara by a score of 55-52 with 7:56 left. A win by Saint Mary's will give them the #2 seed in the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Looking at some notable games going on right now:
Welcome in to our live coverage of West Coast Conference basketball. We are very excited to bring you coverage of this big game tonight here on VAVEL USA.
We will also be keeping you posted on another big game on the good side of the Rocky Mountains. That one is from the Mountain West Conference as the Boise State Broncos travel to face the San Diego State Aztecs in a big seeding game ahead of the Mountain West Tournament.
BYU is in third place in the West Coast Conference just one game behind Saint Mary’s. The Gaels are playing away to Santa Clara with their tip-off at 8:00 pm ET. We will keep you posted on that score so we will know what the Cougars are playing for in tonight’s match-up.
The impressive stat is that Collinsworth has five triple-doubles this season. He also has another eight double-doubles that don’t even include the triple-doubles in it. He will likely be matched up with Kevin Pangos, watch Collinsworth’s rebound numbers as he does hold a slight height advantage over Pangos.
Finally, the most important person to follow in the game is Kyle Collinsworth. The 6-foot-6 junior guard is having a monster season. His numbers seem to be pretty average at 13.3 points per game, 8.6 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game.
The second player is Skyler Halford. The 6-foot-1 senior earns a bunch of minutes off the bench for the Cougars and he does not disappoint. He averages 8.3 points per game but is averaging 15 per game in the last five. He has really improved his three-point shooting hitting 55% in the last five games.
Tyler Haws is the first player. The 6-foot-5 senior averages 22.3 points per game by himself and has scored 106 points in the last five games. He takes a very high volume of the shots with 79 in the last five. He has been very consistent this season with 22 games where he has scored 20 or more points.
There are three players from BYU that fans of the Zags should keep an eye on tonight.
The BYU Cougars come into the game today on a five-game winning streak. They are also the highest scoring team in the Nation averaging 84.4 points per game.
The other player to watch for Gonzaga is Kevin Pangos. The senior guard is averaging five assists per game and six per game in the last five. Pangos is a dangerous player because he is not only a very solid shooter who can take over a game with his shot; he also possesses great vision on the court. His ability to find the open man, either a shooter from distance or Karnowski/Wiltjer/Sabonis in the post, is superior to almost everybody in the NCAA.
It has been very interesting to see Wiltjer’s confidence in his long-range shooting show up recently. He has made 18 three pointers on 33 attempts in the month of February (seven games). He has scored 20+ points in three of those games while also having a double-double in three of those games.
The 6-foot-10 junior from Portland, Oregon had a career game just nine days ago on the road against Pacific. Wiltjer scored 45 points on 15-of-22 shooting which included him making 7-of-10 shots from three-point range.
Kentucky transfer Kyle Wiltjer has established himself as the scoring threat on this team. He has scored 100 points in the last five games while shooting an impressive 14-of-26 from behind the arc in that stretch.
The Zags lead the nation in field goal percentage shooting 52.7% from the floor as a team. That number has been a little lower in the last five games but a 49.8% shooting percentage is nothing to be down about. Gonzaga is averaging 70.2 points per game in their last five games.
On top of their current winning streak, they also will be looking to extend their home winning streak to 42 consecutive wins at The Kennel. Their last loss on campus came on December 8th, 2012 when the Zags fell 85-74 to the visiting Illinois Fighting Illini. Since then, they have won 41 straight home games by an average of 22.5 points per game.
Gonzaga has already clinched the West Coast Conference Regular Season Title and the #1 seed in the West Coast Conference Tournament. The Zags have won 22 straight games since December 6th when they lost at Arizona in overtime.
BYU, on the other hand, is currently at the bottom end of the bracket depending on which brackets you read. They are one of the last four in on the latest VAVEL Bracketology post but some Bracketologists have the Cougars on the outside looking in. A win over Gonzaga would be a huge boost to BYU’s resume.
Gonzaga is towards the top of the tournament around the #1 or #2 line depending on which brackets you read. The Zags are the top team in the West Region according to the latest VAVEL Bracketology post.
The two schools come into tonight’s game on different ends of the NCAA Tournament spectrum.
Good evening and welcome to VAVEL USA’s live coverage of NCAA Division 1 College Basketball. Our game tonight comes to you from The Kennel in Spokane, Washington as the BYU Cougars (22-8, 12-5) travel to take on the third-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs (29-1, 17-0). My name is Matthew Evans and I will be your host.