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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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No. 3 Gonzaga rolls past Portland 64-46

The Columbian
Published:

SPOKANE — Domantas Sabonis had 13 points and 11 rebounds as No. 3 Gonzaga beat Portland 64-46 on Thursday night, extending the nation’s longest home winning streak to 37 games dating to 2012.

Przemek Karnowski added 10 points and 11 rebounds for Gonzaga (21-1, 10-0 West Coast Conference), whose only loss was in overtime at then-No. 3 Arizona. It is the best start in program history.

Kyle Wiltjer scored 11 points and Kevin Pangos had 10 for Gonzaga, which has won 14 straight games and beaten Portland in 37 of their last 39 meetings.

Bryce Pressley and Bobby Sharp each scored nine points to lead Portland (12-10, 3-7), which has lost five of six. The Pilots shot just 30 percent (18 of 61) in the game, 22 percent in the second half.

The Zags broke open a close game with a 21-2 run midway through the second half while holding Portland without a field goal for more than 12 minutes.

The Zags lead the nation in field goal shooting at 53.3 percent, but shot just 41 percent against the Pilots.

Portland stayed close in the first half and trailed only 31-25 at halftime.

The Zags led 35-29 early in the second, as both teams struggled to make baskets.

Then Gonzaga found the range. A hook shot by Karnowski launched a 21-2 run that lifted the Bulldogs to a 56-31 lead. Pangos followed with a long 3-pointer, his third of the game, and that seemed to spark the Zags.

Portland made just two of 20 shots to open the second half and was held without a field goal for 12 1/2 minutes during the run.

The Pilots did not challenge after that.

In the first, both teams started the game cold from the floor and Gonzaga led just 17-15 midway through the half. Pressley sank three 3-pointers to keep the Pilots close.

Portland’s Kevin Bailey hit a bank shot to tie the score at 19. Philipp Harwich’s layup put the Pilots ahead 21-20.

Sabonis replied with a short jumper to put the Zags on top.

Pangos hit a late 3-pointer to put Gonzaga up 31-25 at halftime. Gonzaga shot just 42.9 percent in the first half, while the Pilots sank just 36.7 percent (11 of 30) of their shots.

TIP-INS

Portland: Volodymyr Gerun had 14 rebounds. … Portland went 9-3 in non-conference games but has struggled in league play. … The Pilots lead opponents in rebounding by an average of five per game. … Bailey averages 14.1 points per game to lead the Pilots. … Portland has never defeated a top-10 team.

Gonzaga: Pangos’ early 3-pointer broke the school’s career record of 288 set by Blake Stepp. … Gonzaga opened 10-0 in WCC play for the sixth time under coach Mark Few. … Gonzaga became the first Division I team to win 20 games this season, the 18th consecutive year the Zags have won at least 20.

UP NEXT

Portland plays at San Francisco next Thursday.

Gonzaga hosts Memphis on Saturday.

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