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Downs, Daye help Gonzaga top Northern Colorado

Dec 18, 2007 - 5:38 AM SPOKANE, Washington (Ticker) -- Freshman Austin Daye scored 18 points and Micah Downs added 17 as No. 20 Gonzaga cruised to a 77-57 victory over Northern Colorado on Monday night in the second meeting all-time between the teams.

The Bulldogs hadn't played since an 85-59 victory over Cal State Northridge on December 8 and showed a little rust early.

The Bears took a 16-14 lead with 11:45 left in the first half on two free throws by Monice Garrett, but the Bulldogs (9-2) responded with a 10-2 run to take command.

Freshman Steven Gray started the spurt with a 3-pointer and Jeremy Pargo capped it with a layup. Downs knocked down a shot from the arc with 1:44 left to push the lead to 11 before Daye provided a 37-24 halftime edge with a jumper with 22 ticks left.

Northern Colorado (5-4) never challenged in the second half and shot just 29.5 percent (18-of-61) from the floor, including 4-of-20 from the arc.

The 6-10 Daye, who entered averaging 12.2 points, was 5-of-11 from the floor and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line. Downs added five 3-pointers and Gray had two shots from the arc and 12 points.

Gonzaga beat Northern Colorado, 87-60, in the 2004-05 season.