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No. 19 Gonzaga rolls to 81-50 victory over Portland

By CAM McCANN, Associated Press
Published: January 2, 2025, 8:36pm
5 Photos
Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle (99) shoots while pressured by Portland forward Bol Dengdit during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Spokane, Wash.
Gonzaga guard Khalif Battle (99) shoots while pressured by Portland forward Bol Dengdit during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) Photo Gallery

SPOKANE — Nolan Hickman had 13 points and No. 19 Gonzaga cruised to an 81-50 victory over Portland on Thursday night.

Ryan Nembhard added 10 points and nine assists for the Bulldogs (11-4, 2-0 West Coast Conference). Dusty Stromer scored 12, Braden Huff had 10 points and Michael Ajayi pulled down 15 rebounds.

Redshirt freshman Vincent Delano was the only player in double figures for the Pilots (5-11, 0-3) with 12 points. Delano shot 6 for 16 from the field and Portland was held to 33.3% overall, including 4 of 25 (16%) from 3-point range.

Ben Gregg had four of Gonzaga’s 10 steals.

Takeaways

Gonzaga: After shooting 2 for 15 from 3-point range in their conference opener against Pepperdine, the Zags went 11 of 24 (45.8%) in this one.

Portland: The Pilots have been outrebounded by double digits in all three WCC games.

Key moment

After giving up the opening score, Gonzaga went on a 20-0 run. Huff and Nembhard had six points apiece during the spurt.

Key stat

Coming into the game, Gonzaga had held opponents to 28% from behind the 3-point line. Portland went 1 for 14 in the first half and finished 4 of 25 (16%).

Up next

Portland returns home to face Saint Mary’s on Saturday.

Gonzaga visits Loyola Marymount on Saturday.

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No. 19 GONZAGA 81, PORTLAND 50

PORTLAND (5-11) — Dengdit 2-5 2-2 6, Rapp 2-8 0-0 6, Ballisager Webb 2-2 0-2 5, Delano 6-16 0-0 12, Mackinnon 3-8 2-2 8, Ballew 2-10 0-0 5, Masic 0-3 0-0 0, Austin 0-3 0-0 0, Oakman 3-5 0-0 6, Gebbers 1-2 0-0 2, Jones 0-0 0-0 0, C.Lemke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-63 4-6 50.

GONZAGA (11-4) — Gregg 2-4 3-4 7, Ike 3-11 2-2 9, Battle 3-10 2-2 10, Hickman 5-8 0-0 13, Nembhard 4-7 0-0 10, Stromer 5-9 0-0 12, Huff 4-8 2-4 10, Ajayi 1-7 3-4 5, Innocenti 1-2 0-0 3, Few 0-1 0-0 0, Yeo 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 29-68 12-16 81.

Halftime—Gonzaga 35-17. 3-Point Goals—Portland 4-25 (Rapp 2-6, Ballisager Webb 1-1, Ballew 1-4, Dengdit 0-1, Gebbers 0-1, C.Lemke 0-1, Mackinnon 0-1, Austin 0-3, Masic 0-3, Delano 0-4), Gonzaga 11-24 (Hickman 3-5, Nembhard 2-3, Stromer 2-5, Battle 2-6, Innocenti 1-1, Ike 1-2, Gregg 0-1, Huff 0-1). Rebounds—Portland 33 (Dengdit 8), Gonzaga 45 (Ajayi 15). Assists—Portland 10 (Mackinnon 3), Gonzaga 20 (Nembhard 9). Total Fouls—Portland 17, Gonzaga 11.

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