NCAAB Game Preview - Gonzaga at San Diego
Thu Feb 23, 2017 10:00 PM EST

Gonz
96
USD
38
F
USC
77
Ariz
90
F
UCLA
87
AzSt
75
F
Mem
74
Cin
87
F
Wisc
73
OhSt
83
F
StMar
78
Pepp
49
F
ChaSo
72
Winth
86
F
Hof
96
W&M
82
F
Tows
78
UNCW
83
F
JMU
70
Drex
64
F
NE
105
Elon
104
F(2OT)
Stetsn
70
FlGlf
80
F
USC-Up
87
NJIT
88
F
JU
69
NFla
73
F
IPFW
82
IUPUI
83
F
JSU
65
E KY
68
F
Lipsco
85
KennSt
74
F
Bry
66
Merrim
69
F
SacHr
64
StFPA
73
F
FaDi
76
RobM
77
F
LIU
62
MtStM
58
F
StFNY
53
CenCT
62
F
Longw
45
Lib
61
F
Campbl
49
HiPt
59
F
Presb
57
Radf
59
F
UTEP
60
FAU
55
F
W Ky
77
UNCC
83
F
UTSA
69
FIU
67
F
UMass
67
GrgWas
83
F
UGA
60
Bama
55
F
Nebras
72
MSU
88
F
Del
65
Charl
78
F
Murr
69
SEMO
82
F
Quin
74
Maris
87
F
Nich
77
InWor
68
F
HCU
81
McNee
79
F
SDak
92
W IL
81
F
Seatt
86
UTRGV
77
F
APSU
72
TN-M
76
F
USM
71
Rice
72
F(OT)
LaTec
85
N TX
67
F
Marsh
65
ODU
86
F
SoFL
68
Tuls
82
F
SFA
65
NOrl
82
F
UtVal
84
NMSt
72
F
TNTec
68
MorSt
73
F
ChiSt
59
GrCan
82
F
Web
72
E WA
82
F
UNCA
76
GWebb
81
F
UMKC
62
CSBak
71
F
UCRiv
61
UCSB
68
F
CAPoly
78
LongB
71
F
IdaSt
61
Ida
69
F
Pacif
68
SCla
69
F
BYU
97
Portl
78
F
USF
51
LoyMa
53
F
CSNor
85
UCDav
96
F
S UT
86
PorSt
93
F
NoAZ
73
Sac
69
F
Utah
86
Colora
81
F
No. 1 Gonzaga seeks 29th win at San Diego
Wed Feb 22, 2017 3:42 PM

Gonzaga enters Thursday night's game at San Diego as the top-ranked team in the nation with a 28-0 record while the struggling Toreros are just elated to be coming off a double-overtime win at Santa Clara on Saturday.

After losing 79-43 to Gonzaga (16-0 in the West Coast Conference) last month in Spokane, Wash., San Diego (12-16, 5-11) is looking for any confidence boost it can get. The game at the Jenny Craig Pavilion (capacity 5,100) is sold out, only the 15th time that has happened since the arena opened in the 2000-01 season.

"When you play a team like (Gonzaga), you have to be clicking on all cylinders and you have to execute the game plan to a 'T' and you have to make shots," San Diego coach Lamont Smith said. "We didn't do any of (that) and they took it to us (in Spokane). Hopefully we learned and hopefully we can get better and turn the page."

The gritty win at Santa Clara could at least help the Toreros' psyche. Sophomore guard Tyler Williams connected on a 17-foot jumper from the right elbow to give San Diego the victory. It snapped a five-game losing streak and also avenged San Diego's home loss to the Broncos by two points.

"We've been close in these types of games this season and it was great to get the win," Smith said. "We just stayed the course and kept to our game plan."

The game plan will be put to the ultimate test against Gonzaga, which dominated San Diego with its size advantage on the frontcourt.

Gonzaga outscored San Diego 50-16 in points in the paint in the previous matchup. The Toreros also had 15 turnovers that led to 19 points for the Bulldogs.

Johnathan Williams had 13 points and 12 rebounds and Nigel Williams-Goss led the Bulldogs with 25 points on 11-of-15 shooting.

The victory on Jan. 26 put Gonzaga atop the rankings because No. 1 Villanova and No. 2 Kansas lost that same day. The Bulldogs have taken care of business since that day to maintain the loftiest ranking.

The Bulldogs are beating opponents by an average of 23.7 points, tops in the nation. They are winning WCC games by 26.3 points. Gonzaga has won 21 straight games by double digits.

"We haven't taken a night off," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "That stands out."

The Bulldogs are faced with that kind of challenge again in the WCC with San Diego entering the game with a losing record.

Gonzaga has used its defense, interior size with Williams, 7-foot-1 Przemek Karnowsky and 7-footer Przemek Karnowski and high-quality guard play from Williams-Goss to overcome any letdowns.

San Diego counters with a starting lineup that has no player taller than 6-7. Brett Bailey (a Spokane native who is averaging 15.9 points a game), Olin Carter III (15.2) and Cameron Neubauer (11.0) are the top three scorers for the Toreros. There aren't many scoring resources behind that trio.

In WCC games, the Toreros are only averaging 59.9 points a game. Gonzaga, by contrast, is averaging 86.

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Gonzaga  
San Diego  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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