No. 2 Gonzaga Blows Out BYU
Feb 23, 2019, 10:13 PM | Updated: Mar 1, 2019, 9:52 am
Rui Hachimura #21 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives against Yoeli Childs #23 and Zac Seljaas #2 of the BYU Cougars in the second half at McCarthey Athletic Center on February 23, 2019 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeated BYU 102-68. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
(Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, Wash. – The BYU Cougars were severely outplayed in a 102-68 loss to the No. 2-nationally ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Beating Gonzaga on the road wasn’t an impossibility, the Cougars did it in 2017 when the Zags were undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country.
This time, however, there would be no celebration for the Cougars as Gonzaga rolled past them for an easy 34-point victory.
Final. Thank you Seniors. pic.twitter.com/x2JRL8zAED
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 24, 2019
By the time five minutes had expired on the game clock, Gonzaga already had a 15-5 advantage. The Cougars fought back and cut the lead to just four at 17-13. The Bulldogs, however, increased the separation and took a 51-38 lead at the halftime break.
The second half was ugly for BYU. The Cougars managed just 30 points in the final 20 minutes compared to 51 by Gonzaga.
Zag’s shot 5️⃣7️⃣ percent from the field in the first half pic.twitter.com/ryH0rbkmaK
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) February 24, 2019
With the loss, BYU will be unable to extend head coach Dave Rose’s 13-year streak of putting up 20-plus wins in a season. The Cougars now hold a 18-12 record overall with a 10-5 mark in conference play.
By The Numbers
Yoeli Childs and TJ Haws both had 18 points apiece to lead the Cougars.
Zach Norvell had 25 points off the bench to lead Gonzaga. Rui Hachimura turned a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds.
Next Up
The Cougars will finish off their regular season against San Diego on March 2 at 7 p.m.
Previously against the Toreros on Feb. 14, the Cougars prevailed 88-82 in overtime.
