{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Gonzaga 82, Pacific 61
When: 4:00 PM ET, Saturday, February 18, 2017
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington
Officials: # Michael Greenstein, # Sir Allen Conner, # Juan Corral
Attendance: 6000

Top-ranked Gonzaga had five scorers in double figures led by Nigel Williams-Goss' 18 points in the Bulldogs' 82-61 win over Pacific in a West Coast Conference game in Spokane, Wash., on Saturday.

Johnathan Williams added 12 points and 11 rebounds and Zach Collins had 14 points and nine rebounds as Gonzaga improved to 28-0 overall and 16-0 in the WCC. Przemek Karnowski had 13 points and eight rebounds and Jordan Mathews added 10 points.

"It's so much fun," said Williams-Goss, a transfer from Washington, said about being unbeaten. "This has been the funnest year of my life playing with my brothers."

Pacific (10-19, 4-12) was short-handed without leading scorer T.J. Wallace (who averages 12.5 points a game) and Jacob Lampkin, who scored 18 points for Pacific in the previous game with Gonzaga in Stockton, Calif. Wallace did not travel with the team because of a foot strain and Wallace is out for the rest of the season with a fractured left foot.

The Tigers were led by Jack Williams' 16 points and nine rebounds. Ray Bowles added 13 points and D.J. Ursery had 11.

"Gonzaga is a No. 1 team for a reason," said Pacific coach Damon Stoudamire, a former player and assistant coach at Arizona. "I've been on that side as a player and coach. I told our guys we didn't put enough pressure on them to think about what they had to do in the game."

Gonzaga led for most of the game, never trailing after the 15:59 mark of the first half.

The Bulldogs started to pull away with a 10-2 run that gave them a 31-20 lead with 6:31 left in the first half. They led at halftime 43-30 behind 14 points from Williams-Goss and 10 points and nine rebounds from Williams.

Stoudamire said he was frustrated by Pacific's free-throw shooting as the Tigers finished 10 of 18. They were 5 of 9 in the first half.

"If we make those free throws, we are under 10 points down going into the half," Stoudamire said. "We fought hard in the second half but it's difficult to sustain, especially playing a team that's playing on a high level."

Gonzaga started the second half outscoring Pacific 10-3 to take a 53-33 lead with 16:21 left in regulation. Pacific scored its first field goal of the second half after that, with 15:30 remaining, on a 3-pointer by Ursery.

The Bulldogs responded with seven unanswered points on two layups by Karnowski and a 3-pointer by Silas Melson to take a 60-36 lead with 13:22 left. Pacific did not come within 20 points after that.

"It's important we get a sweep next week and play for something bigger as we head into the postseason," said Gonzaga coach Mark Few, whose team plays at San Diego and hosts BYU next week to conclude the regular season.

"There's a lot on the line and I hope the guys respond with a great last week to give us the momentum we need."

Williams-Goss said the Bulldogs are fueled by critics who downplay their success against suspect competition in the WCC.

"That's what you got to do is keep trying to prove yourselves," Williams-Goss said. "You should not complain about it or whine about. Just try to keep getting better. Hopefully we can put all of that to rest in the NCAA tournament."

NOTES: Gonzaga F Johnathan Williams eclipsed the 600-rebound mark with 11 boards Thursday against San Francisco. He had another 11 against Pacific. He has 618 in his career. ... Pacific is 0-5 against ranked Gonzaga teams (all since the 2012-13 season). The Tigers' lone win in the series came in Stockton, Calif., on Dec. 23, 1976, a 70-60 final. ... This was the 15th time Pacific has faced the top-ranked team in the country and the first time it's happened since Feb. 21, 1991 when the Tigers played No. 1 UNLV at the Thomas & Mack Center and lost 80-59. Pacific is 0-15 when playing the top-ranked team in the nation. ... Entering the game, seven Gonzaga players were averaging at least 8.2 points per game. Those seven are averaging between 8.2 and 16.2 points. No player has led the Bulldogs solely in scoring in back-to-back games this season. ... Gonzaga ranks second in the country in field-goal percentage defense, holding opponents to 37.1 percent shooting from the field. On offense, the Zags are third in the nation, shooting 51.5 percent from the field.
Top Game Performances
 
Pacific   Gonzaga
Jack Williams 16 Scoring Nigel Williams-Goss 18
Maleke Haynes 3 Assists Nigel Williams-Goss 7
Jack Williams 9 Rebounds Johnathan Williams 11
D.J. Ursery 4 Free Throws Made Zach Collins 8
Jack Williams 4 Steals Nigel Williams-Goss 2
N/A Blocks Zach Collins 5
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Pacific 61 33.8 5-17 10-18 11 32 0 9 9
Gonzaga 82 46.4 4-16 26-30 14 41 9 7 13