Julian Strawther scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures Monday night as No. 1 Gonzaga cruised to an 84-57 win over Alcorn State in Spokane, Wash.
Hunter Sallis came off the bench to add 16 for the Bulldogs (3-0), while Chet Holmgren stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. Drew Timme chipped in 10 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Keondre Montgomery scored 13 points for the Braves (0-4), who are opening the season with 13 straight road games before diving into Southwestern Athletic Conference play. Alcorn State also got 10 points from Justin Thomas.
But the Braves couldn't contend with Gonzaga's potent offense.
The Zags shot 58.6 percent from the field and had 26 assists off 34 made buckets. They scored 54 points in the paint and enjoyed a 38-26 rebounding advantage.
Alcorn State did manage the first basket of the game on a Darrious Agnew layup. Its next field goal didn't come for nearly five minutes and Gonzaga already established a 14-3 lead as Strawther canned a short jumper and a pair of 3-pointers.
It got no better for the Braves as the Zags were able to get whatever shot they wanted. Holmgren, the top-rated player in this year's freshman class, unveiled his versatile game with a layup, blocked shot and a 3-pointer in a 26-second span as Gonzaga upped the margin to 27-8 less than 9 ½ minutes into the game.
Sallis' jumper stretched the lead to 20 for the first time at the 7:38 mark of the first half and the Zags pushed it out to 26 before settling for a 45-21 advantage at the break.
Gonzaga increased the lead to 30 when Andrew Nembhard canned a 3-pointer with 14:09 remaining in the game. The margin soared to 82-47 with 5:38 left on Ben Gregg's layup before Alcorn State made the final more respectable with a game-ending 10-2 run.
--Field Level Media
Alcorn St. | Gonzaga | |
Keondre Montgomery 13 | Scoring | Julian Strawther 18 |
Byron Joshua 4 | Assists | Drew Timme 6 |
Dominic Brewton 4 | Rebounds | Chet Holmgren 6 |
Devin Carter 2 | Free Throws Made | Hunter Sallis 4 |
Justin Thomas 4 | Steals | Anton Watson 2 |
Dontrell McQuarter 1 | Blocks | Chet Holmgren 4 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Alcorn St. | 57 | 40.3 | 3-11 | 4-7 | 10 | 25 | 1 | 9 | 12 |
Gonzaga | 84 | 58.6 | 7-19 | 9-12 | 26 | 36 | 6 | 5 | 13 |