(7) Gonzaga (20-2) at San Diego (11-11)
Saturday, February 2, 11 p.m. (et)
The Sports Network
By Gregg Xenakes, Associate College Basketball Editor
FACTS & STATS: Site: Jenny Craig Pavilion (5,100) -- San Diego, California.
Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Gonzaga 10-1, USD 8-3. Away Record: Gonzaga
6-1, USD 3-6. Neutral Record: Gonzaga 4-0, USD 0-2. Conference Record: Gonzaga
7-0, USD 4-3. Series Record: Gonzaga leads, 60-21.
GAME NOTES: Still undefeated in West Coast Conference play, the seventh-ranked
Gonzaga Bulldogs follow up one of their most lopsided league wins in some time
as they clash with the San Diego Toreros at Jenny Craig Pavilion on Saturday
night.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs won their third straight game and ninth in the last
10 outings as they completely dominated the Lions of Loyola Marymount on the
road, 88-43. With the victory Gonzaga, the highest-ranked team in the country
outside of the so-called power conferences, remained perfect in league play at
7-0.
For the Bulldogs, they became the second team in the country (Michigan) to
arrive at 20 wins on the campaign, thus locking in head coach Mark Few to a
14th straight season in which his teams have won at least as many games.
As for the Toreros, they are an even 11-11 overall and 4-3 in league play
following a 64-50 setback against Santa Clara last weekend. The defeat was the
third in a row for the program.
Thanks to a pair of wins last season, the Bulldogs own a commanding 60-21
advantage in the all-time series versus USD. In fact Gonzaga, which is set to
host the Toreros in three weeks, has captured eight straight wins over San
Diego.
Playing a complete game at both ends of the floor, the Bulldogs led from the
opening tap and never looked back against LMU two nights ago, holding the
hosts to just 25.0 percent shooting from the floor as the Lions registered
just as many turnovers (14) as made field goals. Kelly Olynyk played just 20
minutes but still came up with 15 points to match Gary Bell Jr. for the team
high. Drew Barham and Sam Dower both chipped in 13 points off the bench, while
David Stockton matched a career best with seven assists for the visitors.
Olynyk has been a huge presence for the Bulldogs in 2012-13 as he leads the
team with 18.0 ppg as a 65.8 percent shooter from the floor, adding 6.9 rpg
which is second only to Elias Harris (15.0 ppg) who is pulling down 7.1 boards
per contest. The Bulldogs have impressive stats across the board as they shoot
51.3 percent from the floor, have outscored opponents by more than 100 at the
free-throw line and maintain a scoring advantage over more than 17 ppg at the
moment.
The Toreros made only nine field goals in the first half against Santa Clara
last weekend and while that was good enough to stay within four points at the
break, the team did the same thing in the second half and eventually was
defeated by 14 points. Ken Rancifer was the lone double-digit scorer for the
program with his 14 points, shooting only 4-of-12 from the floor as the team
finished with 37.5 percent accuracy from the field, 5-of-20 beyond the arc and
a disappointing 9-of-18 at the free-throw line. Johnny Dee, who finished with
nine points last weekend, is the sole double-digit scorer on the season for
the Toreros with 14.4 ppg, shooting close to 40 percent from 3-point range
along the way. Chris Anderson, responsible for another 9.4 ppg, has shown that
he can manage a game with 113 assists and 49 steals, but the wins are still
hard to come by for San Diego these days.
At this point it doesn't appear as though the Bulldogs have any real problem
playing anywhere and even though the team has had to make a quick turn-around
against a San Diego group that has had a full week to rest, the odds are still
in Gonzaga's favor.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Gonzaga 81, San Diego 55
02/02 10:32:24 ET
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