Gonzaga trying to stay focused on San Diego game before WSU game

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Jan. 7—It happens more often during the arduous segments on Gonzaga’s nonconference schedules, but the latest edition of the game before The Game arrives Wednesday for the Bulldogs.

No. 18 GU entertains San Diego, which is No. 311 in the NET out of 364 teams, before lining up Saturday against Washington State for the first time since 2015 with a lot on the line in the West Coast Conference pecking order.

Saturday’s matchup promises to be intense against the Cougars, No. 66 in the NET, with the Kennel Club returning from holiday break. Gonzaga, WSU and Saint Mary’s are 3-0 in conference and heavy favorites to be 4-0 as the Gaels face Loyola Marymount on Tuesday, GU-USD on Wednesday and WSU meeting visiting Pacific on Thursday.

But first things first as the Zags return to the McCarthey Athletic Center for the first time since an 86-65 win over Bucknell on Dec. 21.

The Zags (12-4 overall) not only want to zero in on the Toreros (4-12, 1-2) before shifting focus to their 509 neighbors, they want to continue a couple of promising trends in their undefeated WCC start.

Gonzaga handled Portland and LMU by a combined 59 points with solid efforts at both ends of the floor. In their conference opener, the Zags cruised to an 18-point halftime lead before handing on for an 89-82 road win when their defense slipped in the closing half against Pepperdine.

Only Long Beach State (41) has scored fewer points against the Zags than Portland (50) this season. Gonzaga doubled up the Lions 44-22 by late in the first half and limited LMU to 38% shooting overall.

“It wasn’t nothing about our offense,” Gonzaga senior guard Khalif Battle said after Saturday’s win. “I think just defensively we disrupted, that was the game plan. If we do that every single night, we’re going to be tough to beat.”

The same applies when senior post Graham Ike dominates in the key and the squad is connecting from behind the 3-point line. Ike torched the Lions for 27 points with decisive, powerful moves and wasn’t bothered by…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/gonzaga-trying-stay-focused-san-030200549.html

Author : The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash.

Publish date : 2025-01-08 03:02:00

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