NCAAB Game Preview - Gonzaga at San Diego
Thu Jan 9, 2020 10:00 PM EST

Gonz
94
USD
50
F
Minn
58
MSU
74
F
Ariz
73
Oreg
74
F(OT)
Purd
78
Mich
84
F(2OT)
Mem
67
WichSt
76
F
Drex
73
Tows
89
F
LaTec
73
UTSA
89
F
Merrim
62
StFPA
80
F
FlGlf
74
NFla
89
F
NJIT
52
JU
68
F
ArkLR
71
Troy
76
F
MtStM
61
(N/A)
64
F
Oakl
60
YSU
61
F
UNCW
63
W&M
79
F
StPet
58
Sien
61
F
StFNY
52
RobM
78
F
CenCT
78
LIU
90
F
N AL
52
Lib
63
F
Del
80
JMU
76
F
UL
52
GASt
90
F
ULM
56
GaSo
67
F
SacHr
77
FaDi
75
F
Charl
73
Elon
65
F
(N/A)
56
Colum
86
F
Detr
59
Clev
64
F
KennSt
73
Lipsco
85
F
Marsh
79
MTSU
75
F
E IL
74
E KY
77
F
APSU
75
TNTec
62
F
SIU-E
77
MorSt
83
F
Hof
74
NE
72
F
UMKC
64
UTRGV
76
F
App
56
TexAr
66
F
CoCar
66
TxSt
78
F
ArkSt
59
USA
75
F
FAU
81
Rice
76
F
NDSU
73
ORU
79
F
FIU
56
N TX
74
F
W Ky
62
UAB
72
F
Belm
89
SEMO
64
F
TNSt
74
TN-M
87
F
Wash
55
Stan
61
F
N CO
65
Web
64
F
USM
64
UTEP
76
F
ChiSt
54
NMSt
93
F
S UT
71
IdaSt
55
F
Murr
72
JSU
68
F
Mont
90
E WA
63
F
MTSt
71
Ida
68
F
HI
75
CS-Ful
69
F
UCRiv
65
UCDav
59
F
NoAZ
57
Sac
64
F
WaSt
66
Cal
73
F
BYU
84
StMar
87
F(OT)
SCla
61
USF
80
F
AzSt
82
OrSt
76
F
No. 1 Gonzaga looks to dominate at San Diego
Thu Jan 9, 2020 5:09 PM

Top-ranked Gonzaga typically sails through West Coast Conference play, but its first two conference wins this season were by an average of just nine points.

The Bulldogs will look to get back to winning convincingly on Thursday when they visit San Diego, a program the Zags traditionally dominate.

Gonzaga (16-1, 2-0 WCC) has beaten the Toreros 10 straight times and 21 of the past 22. During coach Mark Few's 21-season tenure, the Bulldogs are 44-4 versus San Diego.

The contest marks just the third time the Toreros (7-10, 0-2) will meet a No. 1 team and the first two went terribly as San Diego lost by an average of 44 points.

The Toreros were routed 101-71 on Dec. 9, 1995 by Kansas, when the names on the Jayhawks' roster for the game at the San Diego Sports Arena included future NBA players Paul Pierce, Raef LaFrentz, Scot Pollard and Jacque Vaughn. Kansas advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament before losing.

The other instance came against Gonzaga on Feb. 23, 2017 when the Bulldogs steamrolled the Toreros 96-38 at the on-campus Jenny Craig Pavilion. That victory gave Gonzaga a 29-0 record en route to losing in the NCAA championship game against North Carolina.

Of course, this version of the Zags isn't too bad either as it brings an eight-game winning streak into the contest. In addition, Gonzaga has won 33 consecutive conference road games.

Then again, the first two WCC games haven't been so sparkling with the Bulldogs winning 85-72 at Portland and struggling for a 75-70 home win over Pepperdine.

"Two games in a row we've come out pretty flat," junior forward Corey Kispert told the Spokesman-Review of Spokane. "It's disappointing that we can't get things going early. These teams in this league are good enough if you give them hope and life, they're going to start making shots and making plays."

One player who put up strong efforts in both games was senior forward Killian Tillie, who has missed six games this season due to knee and ankle injuries.

Tillie reached the 20-point mark in both games -- including a season-best 22 against Portland -- to raise his average to 13.2. That ranks third on the squad.

"I felt like the team needed my intensity and energy," Tillie said afterward.

Sophomore forward Filip Petrusev leads the Bulldogs in scoring (16.6), rebounding (8.1) and blocked shots (22). He had 16 points and 10 rebounds against Pepperdine for his fifth double-double of the season.

Kispert averages 14.3 points and is the team leader with 42 3-pointers but his shooting has been spotty of late. He is just 11-of-34 -- including 6-of-21 from 3-point range -- over the past three games.

San Diego opened WCC play with two road defeats -- 64-58 to Loyola Marymount and 80-63 against Santa Clara.

The loss to Santa Clara marked the third time the Toreros allowed 80 or more points. San Diego allows an average of 68.1.

The Toreros committed 19 turnovers against the Broncos and are making 14.8 per game.

"I've got to do a better job of making our guys understand the value of the ball," San Diego coach Sam Scholl told reporters.

Junior guard Braun Hartfield is emerging as a force with 10 straight double-digit outings. He is averaging 15.6 points during the stretch.

Overall, Hartfield's season average is 13.1. Sophomore guard Joey Calcaterra leads at 13.2 and also has buried a team-best 33 3-pointers.

San Diego's most recent victory over Gonzaga came on Feb. 22, 2014 when it posted a 69-66 home triumph. That also is the Toreros' last victory over a ranked team as the Bulldogs were ranked No. 25 at the time.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

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

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