NCAAB Game Recap - Santa Clara at Gonzaga
Thu Jan 16, 2020 11:00 PM EST

SCla
54
Gonz
104
F
Oreg
61
WaSt
72
F
Colora
68
AzSt
61
F
Cin
49
Mem
60
F
Lipsco
57
NJIT
75
F
Army
79
HolyC
67
F
Radf
63
USC-Up
59
F
HiPt
68
UNCA
66
F
KennSt
51
FlGlf
73
F
NFla
75
JU
68
F
ArkSt
80
App
83
F(OT)
Stetsn
54
N AL
49
F
GaSo
82
Troy
66
F
YSU
63
NoKY
88
F
Presb
74
Longw
67
F
Winth
116
Hamp
95
F
Clev
62
WriSt
75
F
Hof
63
UNCW
61
F
Maris
66
Monm
74
F
UNCC
77
Marsh
75
F
Quin
57
Manh
69
F
MTSU
94
FAU
97
F(OT)
UAB
68
FIU
93
F
Elon
41
Drex
63
F
W&M
77
Del
68
F
ArkLR
71
CoCar
55
F
NE
79
Charl
76
F
ChaSo
77
Campbl
62
F
Rice
56
LaTec
72
F
Detr
90
WIMil
84
F
Oakl
69
WIGB
73
F
ODU
69
W Ky
71
F
ORU
87
W IL
70
F
TexAr
81
UL
65
F
GASt
72
USA
63
F
N TX
72
USM
52
F
TxSt
64
ULM
63
F
CSBak
74
UMKC
64
F(OT)
SIU
48
LoyIL
64
F
IlSt
74
Drake
84
F
GrCan
78
ChiSt
64
F
APSU
84
SEMO
59
F
Utah
77
Ariz
93
F
JSU
69
E IL
70
F
Murr
84
TN-M
62
F
LoyMa
67
Pepp
75
F
NMSt
70
UtVal
56
F
NoAZ
75
S UT
72
F
Sac
52
N CO
71
F
Web
76
IdaSt
68
F(OT)
USD
70
BYU
93
F
E KY
56
Belm
87
F
TNTec
72
SIU-E
69
F
MorSt
48
TNSt
64
F
CSNor
80
UCRiv
68
F
UTRGV
74
Seatt
91
F
Pacif
65
Portl
55
F
UCDav
85
LongB
82
F
Cal
56
USC
88
F
E WA
78
Ida
75
F
OrSt
56
Wash
64
F
CAPoly
61
HI
65
F

Jan 16, 2020, 11:00 PM EST

Final

1

2

T

Santa Clara

22

32

54

(1) Gonzaga

58

46

104

Ayayi leads No. 1 Gonzaga over Santa Clara 104-54
Fri Jan 17, 2020 1:49 AM

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Coach Mark Few took a moment to reflect on Gonzaga's record-tying 32nd consecutive regular-season West Coast Conference win, one of the easier victories in the streak.

"It means we're really, really consistent," Few said. "We're focused."'

`'We don't take anything for granted. We get everybody's best effort," Few added. "It means you are not slipping up mentally or physically."

Joel Ayayi scored 19 points and Filip Petrusev and Admon Gilder each scored 18 as top-ranked Gonzaga routed Santa Clara 104-54 Thursday night.

Gonzaga won its 33rd straight home game, the longest streak in the nation.

Gonzaga shares the conference record set by Pepperdine from 1991-93, and has a chance to break it Saturday against BYU.

Corey Kispert added 16 points for Gonzaga (19-1, 5-0 West Coast), which opened a stretch in which it plays three games against opponents just behind it in the league standings.

Josip Vrankic scored 12 points and Trey Wertz 11 for cold-shooting Santa Clara (15-4, 2-2), which is off to its best start in decades. But the Broncos have lost 20 straight to Gonzaga, dating to 2011.

The Broncos were doomed by 30% shooting in this game, including 3 of 25 from 3-point range.

Gonzaga has won 11 games in a row since its only loss to Michigan.

Gonzaga made eight of its first 11 shots to take a 20-9 lead.

The Bulldogs then went on a 20-5 run to push their lead to 40-14 midway through the first.

`'We jumped out and played with great tenacity," Few said. `'We protected the rim."

The Broncos couldn't get untracked and Gonzaga closed the first half with a 14-2 run to take a 58-22 lead into the locker room. Santa Clara shot just 25% (9 of 36) in the first half, including 1 of 12 from 3-point range.

Gonzaga shot 51% in the first and sank seven 3-pointers.

Santa Clara opened the second half with a 14-4 run, eight points by Vrankic, to cut Gonzaga's lead to 62-36. But it was too little, too late.

Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek was not available for comment immediately after the game.

FREE THROWS AND REBOUNDS

Santa Clara's tough shooting night extended to free throws, where they made just 9 of 19. Gonzaga sank 28-of-32 free throws. The Zags won the rebound battle 53-35.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

An easy win over a quality league opponent should help the Zags stay atop the AP Top 25 for another week.

WATSON OUT

Gonzaga freshman forward Anton Watson will have shoulder surgery and miss the rest of the season, the team said. He appeared in 15 games. `'He's a warrior. He has a bright future," Few said.

BIG PICTURE

Santa Clara: The Broncos have seven players averaging at least 7 points , but as a team average just 66.8 per game, 20 points fewer than Gonzaga. ... This is Santa Clara's best start since the 1977-78 season ... Forward Guglielmo Caruso is out indefinitely with a leg injury.

Gonzaga: The Zags lead the nation in scoring at 87.8 points per game, and are the only team with six players averaging in double figures. Petrusev leads with 16.6 ppg.

UP NEXT

Santa Clara hosts Pacific on Saturday.

Gonzaga hosts BYU, which has had some success in Spokane, on Saturday. "It's hard to find a program that plays as consistently hard as they do," Few said. `'They are an old team and a skilled team."

---

For more AP college basketball coverage: https://apnews.com/Collegebasketball and http://twitter.com/AP-Top25

Leaders

Santa Clara PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Vrankic 12 0 1 2 3 0
J. Bediako 11 0 1 10 0 1
Gonzaga PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
J. Ayayi 19 0 1 6 3 0
A. Gilder 18 0 3 5 3 1

Team Comparison

SCla Gonz
Points For 54 104
Field Goals 21/69-30% 34/66-52%
Three Pointers 3/25-12% 8/21-38%
Free Throws 9/19-47% 28/32-88%
Offensive Rebounds 16 14
Defensive Rebounds 19 39
Rebounds 38 60
Blocks 2 7
Steals 6 11
Turnovers 15 10
Personal Fouls 20 18
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2019-20 Reg Season - Gonz Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Thu Jan 16 SCla 54 @ Gonz 104 J. Vrankic 12 J. Ayayi 19

Game Information

Stadium: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington
Attendance: 6,000
Game Time: