The Sports Xchange
Dec 28, 2017
Four Gonzaga players scored in double figures, led by 19 points from reserve forward Rui Hachimura, in the 20th-ranked Bulldogs' 81-48 win over Pacific on Thursday night in the teams' West Coast Conference opener at Spokane, Wash.
The Bulldogs (11-3, 1-0 WCC) have won 22 consecutive league openers dating to 1996. They have won all 19 conference openers under coach Mark Few.
Josh Perkins had 16 points and five assists for Gonzaga, which bounced back after losing at San Diego State on Dec. 21. Zach Norvell Jr. added 13 points and five rebounds, and Corey Kispert had 12 points and six rebounds.
Pacific (5-9, 0-1) did not have a scorer in double figures. The Tigers, who shot only 33.3 percent from the field, including 25 percent from 3-point range, were led by Jahlil Tripp's nine points. Jack Williams had seven points and nine rebounds.
Gonzaga, which outrebounded Pacific 46-32 and committed only seven turnovers, did not trail after Kispert made a layup with 13:57 left in the first half, giving the Bulldogs a 10-8 lead.
The Bulldogs built a 31-21 edge by halftime behind 11 points from Perkins.
A 14-2 run that gave Gonzaga a 61-39 lead with 10:28 left in the game proved to be difference. Norvell, Perkins, Kispert and Killian Tillie each made 3-pointers in that run.
NOTES: Gonzaga has won the past 11 meetings against Pacific. The Tigers' only win in the series came on Dec. 23, 1976, a 70-60 decision in Stockton, Calif. The Tigers have never won in Spokane. ... Pacific reserve G Kendall Small entered the game 46th in the country, and first in the West Coast Conference, with an average of 2.08 steals per game. He went without a steal in 16 minutes against Gonzaga. ... Five Gonzaga players were averaging double-digit scoring entering the Thursday game. PF Johnathan Williams led the team in scoring at 15.2 points per game; he finished with just two points against the Tigers. The top seven scorers on the team were averaging at least 7.9 points per game.