Nr. 1 Gonzaga had little trouble giving up BYU in the Kennel on Thursday and beating the Cougars 86-69 in Spokane, Wash.
Here are three takeaways from BYU’s conference opener contest, made possible by a schedule change this week:
- The Zags (11-0, 2-0) West Coast Conference put the Cougars away early and led 30-7 when Gonzaga shot more than 60% in the opening game of 10 minutes. BYU (9-3, 0-1 WCC) eventually broke the lead to 39-26 on a Cougar run of 10-2, but the Zags responded with a 13-0 run by a lead of 52 -29 at halftime.
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Gonzaga forward Drew Timme shoots near BYU guard Brandon Averette, left and forward, Caleb Lohner during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoots in front of BYU center Richard Harward (42) and guard Spencer Johnson (20) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU forward Gideon George will shoot during the second half of the team’s NCAA basketball game against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs (1) shoots alongside BYU guard Brandon Averette (4) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU forward Gideon George, left, shoots in front of Gonzaga guard Joel Ayayi, right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, left, grabs a rebound next to BYU center Richard Harward during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert drops during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against BYU in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU forward Caleb Lohner (33) shoots over Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU guard Alex Barcello, right, passes the ball past Gonzaga center Oumar Ballo, left and forward Anton Watson during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU forward Matt Haarms (3) shoots Drew Timme (2) over Gonzaga forward during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU center Richard Harward (42) shoots in front of Gonzaga forward Pavel Zakharov (10) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) grabs a rebound between BYU guard Connor Harding (44) and center Richard Harward (42) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday 7 January 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard (3) shoots over BYU guard Brandon Averette (4) during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert gestured after scoring a basket during the second half of the team’s NCAA college basketball game against BYU in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU coach Mark Pope speaks to an official during the second half of the team’s NCAA basketball game against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga coach Mark Few yells at his players during the second half of an NCAA basketball game against BYU in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU forward Gideon George, left, and Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs, center and forward Drew Timme, go after a rebound during the second half of an NCAA basketball game in Spokane, Washington., Thursday, January 7, 2021 .
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Gonzaga forward Corey Kispert, right, shoots over BYU forward Kolby Lee during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU forward Matt Haarms shoots during the first half of the team’s NCAA basketball game against Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., Thursday, January 7, 2021.
Young Kwak, Associated Press
- Gonzaga forced BYU into 16 turnovers, turning it into 25 points of giving away. The Cougars forced eight turnovers and put down seven points. The Zags also took a 16-2 lead in quick break points.
- Corey Kispert scored all scorers with 23 points as the Bulldogs shot 49.2% from the field and made 7 of 20 3-pointers, better than BYU’s 4 of 16 attempts from outside the arc. The Zags also had 19 shots for the Cougars ’10 – Joel Ayayi had six of those assists and three Gonzaga players had four or more. Gideon George scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in a losing effort for BYU.