Field Level Media
Feb 6, 2022
Chet Holmgren scored 20 points and collected a career-best 17 rebounds to help second-ranked Gonzaga steamroll BYU 90-57 in West Coast Conference play on Saturday night at Provo, Utah.
Julian Strawther scored 19 points as Gonzaga (19-2, 8-0 WCC) led by as many as 38 points while winning its 12th straight game. Holmgren also contributed six assists and five blocked shots.
Andrew Nembhard recorded 15 points and a career-best six steals for the Bulldogs. Rasir Bolton and Drew Timme added 13 points apiece for Gonzaga, which has won its eight WCC games by an average of 29.6 points.
Gideon George scored 14 points and Seneca Knight added 13 for BYU (17-8, 5-5), which has dropped four straight games for the first time since December of 2013.
Cougars leading scorer Alex Barcello had just nine points on 4-of-14 shooting.
Holmgren made 9 of 14 field-goal attempts while scoring at least 20 points for the fourth time in the past five games.
Gonzaga made 52.5 percent of its shots and was 8 of 21 from 3-point range while beating the Cougars for the 11th time in the past 12 meetings.
BYU connected on 29.6 percent from the field, including 6 of 26 from behind the arc.
The Cougars scored the first five points of the game before Gonzaga began its assault.
The Bulldogs rattled off 12 straight points and 27 of 31 to open up an 18-point lead on Holmgren's dunk with 10:40 left in the half.
Two-plus minutes later, Holmgren drained a 3-pointer to push the lead to 34-13.
Gonzaga's lead reached 30 for the first time when Nembhard scored on a layup to make it 47-17 with 1:58 remaining. It was 47-23 at halftime.
BYU trailed 60-36 after a basket by Caleb Lohner with 14:55 left before the Bulldogs answered with 14 straight points. Nembhard scored seven during the spurt, including the capping layup to make it a 38-point margin with 12 minutes remaining.
The Cougars scored the next 11 points before Timme and Holmgren scored consecutive baskets and Strawther followed with a three-point play to make it 81-47 with 5:35 remaining.
--Field Level Media