for this game
Gonzaga pulls away from San Diego
Feb 27, 2015 - 6:12 AM Spokane, WA (SportsNetwork.com) - Przemek Karnowski finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and No. 3 Gonzaga overcame a slow start and downed San Diego 59-39 on Thursday.Gonzaga wrapped up the West Coast Conference regular-season title over the weekend, and there was a bit of a hangover against a San Diego team that had dropped three of five coming in.
The Bulldogs (29-1, 17-0 WCC) nevertheless pulled away late en route to their 22nd straight victory and first-ever 17-0 start in WCC play. Their home winning streak also reached 41 games despite making only 3-of-12 from behind the arc and 8-of-15 from the foul line.
Gary Bell Jr. chipped in with 13 points, while Byron Wesley and Domantas Sabonis contributed 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the victors.
The Toreros (14-15, 7-10) shot just 29.6 percent from the field and were led by Brandon Perry's nine points. Johnny Dee shot just 2-of-10 for six points -- 12 below his season average.
Gonzaga, the nation's best shooting team entering Thursday, shot just 4-of-17 (23.5 percent) over the opening 17-plus minutes. San Diego's offense did not take full advantage and was only ahead 17-13 before the Bulldogs finally played like a potential No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Sabonis scored six points on a 9-0 run to end the half, and buckets by Karnowski and Wesley after the break stretched the margin to 26-17.
Thomas Jacobs's putback slam had San Diego within 40-35 with seven minutes left, but Gonzaga answered with a 10-1 run for some breathing room. Bell made a 3-pointer and a tough layup during the two-minute stretch, and Karnowski's three-point play yielded a 50-36 cushion with under five minutes remaining.
Game Notes
Gonzaga has won 22 straight games over WCC opponents dating back to last season ... San Diego has dropped 16 straight meetings in Spokane ... The Toreros finish their season at Portland on Saturday ... Gonzaga ends its regular season at home against BYU on Saturday.
- SAN DIEGO: 39
GONZAGA: 59
Final
Feb 27 12:59 AM - SAN DIEGO: 17
GONZAGA: 22
Halftime
Feb 26 11:55 PM - SAN DIEGO: 0
GONZAGA: 0
1st Half - 20:00
Feb 26 11:11 PM
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