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Heytvelt powers Gonzaga past Maryland

Nov 29, 2008 - 6:15 AM LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (Ticker) -- Gonzaga used its advantage inside to thwart Maryland's second straight upset bid.

Josh Heytvelt registered 22 points and nine rebounds as 10th-ranked Gonzaga advanced to the championship of the Old Spice Classic with an 81-59 victory over Maryland on Friday.

Austin Daye collected 17 points and nine rebounds as the Bulldogs dominated inside for much of the game, outrebounding the Terrapins, 41-28. Gonzaga (4-0) will face 12th-ranked Tennessee in the tournament final Sunday night.

The Volunteers defeated the Bulldogs last season, 82-72, and limited West Coast Conference Player of the Year Jeremy Pargo to just eight points on 1-of-7 shooting.

While Pargo was held relatively in check Friday with 11 points, the Terrapins had no answer for the Bulldogs' big men inside.

"It was Josh's (Heytvelt) responsibility to deliver tonight like he did, so he got a lot on putbacks, too," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "I thought he did a decent job of getting in there and getting some offensive rebounds, and that's what changed the game there in the second half."

Coming off an 80-62 shocker of sixth-ranked Michigan State on Thursday, Maryland seemed overmatched for most of the contest. The Terrapins hung around much of the first half, trailing, 28-27, with just over six minutes remaining.

But Maryland (4-1) managed just two points for the rest of the half as Gonzaga closed on a 10-2 run to open a 37-28 lead at the break, powered by four points each from Pargo and Daye.

Greivis Vasquez scored 11 of his 16 points in the first half for the Terrapins, who will face 16th-ranked Georgetown in Sunday's consolation game.

"Coming off last night, I didn't know what to expect," Maryland coach Gary Williams said. "I was hoping to carry that momentum into this game. Gonzaga is good. I'm impressed with their people. They were quick enough, given their size. Obviously they hurt us on the glass. When you play a team that good, you have to play better than we did."

Heytvelt, Daye and Robert Sacre all stand taller than 6-10 and took control of the paint in the second half. With the Bulldogs ahead, 48-40, with 13:23 left, Sacre scored all five of his points as part of a 14-4 stretch that put the game away.

Heytvelt scored 15 of his points in the second half as the Bulldogs turned nine offensive rebounds into 11 second-chance points after halftime.

"In the second half I thought rebounds were the key," Few said. "We did a good job of keeping them off the offensive glass, and we did a better job of anticipating the miss on our end and go in there and try and make a play. That's what broke the game open."

Gonzaga shot 53 percent (29-of-55) from the field while limiting Maryland to just 37 percent (25-of-67), including 1-of-14 from 3-point range.

"Anytime you shoot a bad percentage, and the defense of Gonzaga has something to do with it, ... I think we learned a lot tonight from a good team," Williams said. "I think we learned a lot tonight from a good team."

Eric Hayes was the next highest scorer for Terrapins with eight points.