Sixth-ranked Gonzaga looks to continue unbeaten WCC streak against LMU

Jan. 19—Halftime

Loyola Marymount closed the gap to one point at halftime as Justin Ahrens banked in a deep 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Gonzaga leads 33-23 over the Lions. The Bulldogs relied on the guards to do a majority of the scoring with Drew Timme struggling, just 1 of 6 from the field.

Nolan Hickman leads the Zags with nine points, while Rasir Bolton added eight. GU forced nine turnovers in the first half, leading to 10 points.

The Lions leaned on effective cuts to the basket from Cam Shelton and Keli Leaupepe, who have nine and seven points, respectively.

Neither team shot well away from the basket. LMU is 3 of 9 on 3-pointers and 1 of 4 on free throws. Gonzaga is 1 of 6 on 3s.

First half

4:20 — GU 27, LMU 23: Lions get a couple of shots to fall and the Zags call for a timeout.

Timme struggling so far, 1 of 5 from the field and has three turnovers.

7:56 — GU 25, LMU 19: Both teams battling at the U8 media timeout.

Gregg gets an and-1 to go, now the Zags leading frontcourt player with three points.

10:33 — GU 20, LMU 14: Smith called for a foul and the Lions will have possession when play resumes from the U12 media timeout.

Bolton and Hickman lead the Zags with six and five points, respectively. Gonzaga with just four points from its front court in the early going.

13:44 — GU 12, LMU 7: Quick 7-0 run for the Zags and the Lions call for a timeout.

Turnovers sinking the Lions, up to six, with Gonzaga scoring eight points off those.

15:32 — LMU 7, GU 5: Lions overcome sloppy start with five fouls and four turnovers to take a lead at the U16 media timeout.

Leaupepe leads LMU with five points. Zags just 2 of 6 from the field.

18:50 — GU 1, LMU 0: Quick three fouls for the Lions (all on different players) and Strawther opens the scoring making 1 of 2 free throw attempts.

Pregame

Gonzaga eased the tensions built around a string of tight West Coast Conference games with a comfortable dispatching of Portland last Saturday.

A pair of questions lingers as Loyola Marymount enters the Kennel tonight: Will things get easier for the Zags, or will they need to keep grinding out conference wins on a bi-weekly basis?

The Bulldogs (16-3, 5-0 WCC) put their 11-game win streak on the line tonight against the Lions (13-7, 3-3) at 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on KHQ and can be streamed online here.

LMU has seen mixed results early into its conference schedule. The Lions beat Portland and lost to Pacific, before upsetting Brigham Young and losing to San Francisco by two points.

Last week, LMU lost to Saint Mary's 76-62 and then beat San Diego 98-84.

Series history

Gonzaga has a 25-game win streak over Loyola Marymount and a 76-23 all-time series lead.

The Bulldogs played the Lions once last year, winning 89-55. LMU last won on Feb. 18, 2010 and hasn't won in Spokane since Jan. 27, 1990.

Team stats

Loyola Marymount (13-7, 3-3)

Gonzaga (16-3, 5-0)

Points

76.2

86.9

Points allowed

70.6

73.1

Field goal pct.

45.8

51.7

Rebounds

36.7

38.2

Assists

12.6

16.9

Blocks

2.6

3.2

Steals

5.7

8.0

Streak

Won 1

Won 11

Individual leaders

POINTS

PPG

FG%

FT%

Cam Shelton (LMU)

18.5

47.9

67.6

Drew Timme (GU)

21.5

61.0

61.5

REBOUNDS

RPG

DRPG

ORPG

Keli Leaupepe (LMU)

6.9

4.8

2.2

Drew Timme (GU)

7.8

5.4

2.4

ASSISTS

APG

TOPG

MPG

Cam Shelton (LMU)

4.7

2.2

35.2

Nolan Hickman (GU)

3.5

1.5

28.1

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