The Sports Xchange
Nov 14, 2017
Gonzaga opened with a 12-1 run against Howard and never looked back in a 106-69 victory Tuesday night at McCarthey Athletic Center
Gonzaga (2-0) played an efficient and balanced game from the outset, scoring nine of its first 13 field goals off of assists. On the night, the No. 17 Bulldogs scored 40 baskets off 22 assists, led by guard Josh Perkins' six.
Five Bulldogs scored in double-figures, paced by a game-high and career-high 18 from Zach Norvell Jr. Rui Hachimura scored a career-best 12 points, and Jesse Wade scored all nine of his points from behind the 3-point line.
The five Gonzaga starters' scoring totals ranged from eight points out of Killian Tillie, to 13 from Corey Kispert. Silas Melson added 10 points, and Johnathan Williams scored 12 with a game-high nine rebounds. Perkins also contributed nine points.
Tuesday's visit to Gonzaga marked the third leg in an arduous road swing to open the season for Howard (0-3). The Bison play their first seven games away from Burr Gymnasium in Washington D.C. They opened with nine-point losses at George Washington and Indiana.
R.J. Cole led Howard with 16 points and four assists. Cameron Lewis added nine points and five rebounds. Zion Cousins had his second 10-rebound game in a row.
Gonzaga opened its season with a combined margin of victory of 65 in its two wins.
The Bulldogs host Utah State on Saturday before kicking off a challenging stretch that includes Ohio State, Creighton and No. 5 Villanova from Nov. 23 through Dec. 5.
NOTES: Gonzaga reached triple digits for the first time since scoring 102 against South Dakota in December 2016, and its 106 points were the most since scoring 109 against Bryant on Nov. 18, 2016. ... The Bulldogs' 22 assists were a total they reached five times in their national runner-up 2016-17 season. ... Howard freshman G R.J. Cole is averaging 22 points through his first three. ... The Bison had the nation's leading scorer, James Daniel III, in 2015-16. He transferred to Tennessee in the offseason.