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Raivio, Gonzaga bounce back from first loss in fine fashion

Nov 26, 2006 - 11:53 PM SPOKANE, Washington (Ticker) -- With Gonzaga playing at home, it did not matter that it lost its previous game.

Derek Raivio scored 24 points and Josh Heytvelt added 16 as the No. 23 Bulldogs extended the nation's longest home winning streak to 43 games with a 76-51 victory over Idaho.

Gonzaga (6-1) was coming off its first loss of the season after falling behind by as many as 18 points en route to a 79-71 setback against fellow mid-major Butler in the final of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday.

The Bulldogs also have won six straight games at downtown Veterans Memorial Arena since the streak began on February 22, 2003, to extend its streak to 49 games played in Spokane.

After a tight opening 4 1/2 minutes, Raivio had six points in a 15-4 spurt that gave the Bulldogs a 24-14 advantage with 8:48 to play.

Raivio finished with 16 points in the first half as that advantage was increased to 43-28 at intermission.

Heytvelt, who pulled down 11 rebounds, had six points in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Jeremy Pargo hit a 3-pointer and a jumper during that stretch and David Pendergraft had a layup to extend the lead to 58-35 with 10 minutes remaining.

Pargo scored 11 points and handed out six assists without a turnover for Gonzaga, which held a 23-9 advantage in second-chance points in posting its eighth straight win over Idaho.

The Bulldogs shot 45 percent (26-of-58), outscoring the Vandals in the paint, 36-22. Mario Mackey and Keoni Watson scored 11 points each for Idaho (2-4), which shot 39 percent (20-of-52) and committed 16 turnovers.

Idaho still leads the series, which began in 1909, with a 67-62 mark.