No. 8 Gonzaga Escapes Provo With 75-74 Win Over BYU

Jan 12, 2023, 9:44 PM | Updated: Jul 12, 2023, 12:00 pm

KSL Sports

PROVO, Utah – BYU/Gonzaga lived up to its billing with a wild finish at the Marriott Center. The Cougars had a four-point lead with 1:23 remaining, but the Zags found a way to escape their final scheduled visit to Provo with a win.

No. 8 Gonzaga knocked off BYU, 75-74, in a wild game that saw BYU shoot 52% from three-point range.

Upset falls short.

No. 8 Gonzaga takes down #BYU, 75-74.#BYUHoops pic.twitter.com/sqePBJNAxl

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 13, 2023

KSL Sports was on location for the wild game. Here’s a rundown of what took place in front of a sold out Marriott Center crowd.

Starting Lineups

No. 8 Gonzaga (14-3, 3-0 WCC)

G – Nolan Hickman | 6-2, 180 | Soph.
G – Rasir Bolton | 6-3, 185 | Sr.
F – Julian Strawther | 6-7, 205 | Jr.
F – Anton Watson | 6-8, 225 | Sr.
C – Drew Timme | 6-10, 235 | Sr.

BYU (13-6, 3-1 WCC)

G – Dallin Hall | 6-4, 200 | Fr.
G – Spencer Johnson | 6-5, 195 | Jr.
F – Jaxson Robinson | 6-7, 190 | Soph.
F – Gideon George | 6-6, 210 | Sr.
C – Fousseyni Traore | 6-6, 240 | Soph.

Big game vibes at the Marriott Center.#BYUHoops #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/CnrVPcRQWt

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 13, 2023

First Half Notes

20:00 – Crowd is loud and ready as always for a big game against Gonzaga.
19:22 – Drew Timme knocks down the game’s opening points and hand gestures to the crowd to be quiet. GU 2, BYU 0
17:05 – Timme with a putback off a Zag miss. GU 8, BYU 3
16:37 – Gideon George hits a corner three that causes a loud roar from BYU fans. Important for George and BYU to hit their three-point attempts if they want to pull off this upset. GU 8, BYU 6
15:46 – A Fousseyni Traore dunk puts BYU within one at the first media timeout. GU 9, BYU 8
15:39 – BYU’s first lead of the game comes out of the timeout. Spencer Johnson with a layup to put BYU in front. BYU 10, GU 9
14:58 – Spencer Johnson creates a steal, Fousseyni Traore comes away with the ball and handles it on a fastbreak for a slam dunk. BYU 13, GU 9

Spencer Johnson is a clutch shot maker for this #BYU team. He didn't envision being that this year, but it's played out that way. Critical to this team's success.#BYUHoops

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 13, 2023

11:38 – BYU is shooting the ball well (57%) and limiting turnovers (2). BYU 19, GU 19
8:46 – Dallin Hall buries a three as Gonzaga tries to create separation. GU 29, BYU 27

Spencer Johnson is first #BYU player to 10 points.

He’s the best player on this team and the Cougars really need his scoring tonight.

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) January 13, 2023

4:33 – BYU got down by 10 and then reeled off a quick 5-0 run to get back in it. Fans were not happy over an offensive foul called on Spencer Johnson. GU 37, BYU 32

This has been a poorly officiated first half of basketball.#BYU

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) January 13, 2023

1:34 – Missed opportunity by BYU on a fastbreak. Spencer Johnson came up with a steal and heaved a pass down court to an open Jaxson Robinson, but it went out of bounds. GU 42, BYU 39
1:06 – Spencer Johnson called for a flop and then Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther missed the free throw. Fans then chanted, “Ball don’t lie!” GU 42, BYU 39
Halftime: Gonzaga 44, BYU 39

Halftime: Gonzaga 44, #BYU 39 pic.twitter.com/RUUtejTK8Z

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 13, 2023

Second Half

15:40 – Offense was optional in the second half’s first four minutes of action. Gonzaga was in a 3:57 scoring drought and BYU a 2:39 drought of their own. GU 46, BYU 42
14:45 – Jaxson Robinson buries a corner three to bring the Cougars within three. Then Gonzaga commits a turnover. GU 48, BYU 45

Jaxson Robinson showing up on a big stage. Back-to-back threes.#BYUHoops

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 13, 2023

13:37 – Robinson hit another three to tie it up, then Gonzaga popped off a quick 4-0 run. GU 52, BYU 48

The recipe for an upset? Knock down your threes.#BYU is at a 60% clip from three. #BYUHoops

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 13, 2023

12:47 – Johnson knocked a three of his own. BYU is shooting 60% in the game so far. GU 52, BYU 51
11:09 – Spencer Johnson hits another three. BYU on top. BYU 54, GU 52
10:06 – BYU forced a turnover on Gonzaga and gets a possession with a lead. Then Rudi Williams capitalizes with a jumper in the paint. BYU 58, GU 54
8:33 – BYU continues to scorch the nets from three. BYU 61, GU 56
7:58 – Gonzaga burns a timeout after a layup from Johnson. BYU leads by three possessions. BYU 63, GU 56
7:28 – Now Gideon George gets into the act and buries a three. BYU 66, GU 56
6:16 – After an official review to decide which BYU player fouled Drew Timme, refs said Gideon George fouled him. That gives George four personal fouls. BYU 66, GU 58

That was an outstanding defensive play by Spencer Johnson to prevent a fast break lay-up.

Plays like that illustrate why he’s one of the best players on this team. #BYU #BYUhoops

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) January 13, 2023

4:45 – Excellent effort play from Spencer Johnson to close on a streaking Rasir Bolton, knocks the ball out, the ball then bounces off Bolton. BYU ball. BYU 68, GU 61
4:09 – Drew Timme went to work on Noah Waterman, put on a spin move in the post that led to an easy dunk. BYU 68, GU 63
3:43 – First turnover of the game for Rudi Williams. BYU leads at the final media timeout. BYU 68, GU 63
3:10 – George hits a turnaround midrange jumper. BYU 70, GU 63
3:03 – Drew Timme with an and-one. BYU 70, GU 66
1:53 – Hunter Sallis buries a corner three in front of Gonzaga’s bench to make it a one point game. BYU 70, GU 69

Mark Pope always says that seniors do magical things.

Gideon George in his final home game versus Gonzaga, knocks down a three.#BYU #BYUHoops

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) January 13, 2023

1:23 – Gideon George hits a three. The senior is playing in his final home game versus Gonzaga. BYU 73, GU 69
1:00 – Drew Timme forces a turnover and finds a wide-open Nolan Hickman in the corner for a three. BYU 73, GU 72
50 seconds – Gideon George missed a basket at the rim. BYU 73, GU 72
36.8 – Timeout Gonzaga with the ball. Then Hickman stepped out of bounds.
26.4 – Gonzaga brings the pressure and they foul Jaxson Robinson. BYU 73, GU 72
17.4 – Fousseyni Traore checks in for Dallin Hall.
15.9 Julian Strawther fouls Jaxson Robinson. Robinson knocks down the front end and misses the second. BYU 74, GU 72
9.5 – Julian Strawther hits a three. GU 75, BYU 74
0.0 – Anton Watson blocks a three from BYU’s Spencer Johnson. The Zags escape Provo with a victory.
FINAL: No. 8 Gonzaga 75, BYU 74

BYU/Gonzaga: Pregame Notes

Gonzaga leads the series over BYU, 23-7.
Tonight is the 31st meeting all-time and the last matchup as WCC rivals in the Marriott Center.
Drew Timme leads Gonzaga in scoring (21.8) and rebounds (7.9) per game. BYU’s big man Fousseyni Traore leads the Cougars in the same categories with 12.8 points and 7.9 rebounds.
BYU’s last win over Gonzaga was on February 22, 2020, against the then No. 2 Zags (91-78).
During the 2022-23 season, BYU is 8-1 at the Marriott Center.
Tonight’s game is a sellout, the first of the season at home.
Mark Pope’s BYU teams are 1-6 versus Gonzaga.
No camping was allowed for members of the BYU Student Section, The ROC.
The last time BYU defeated a Top-10 team in the AP Top 25 was against Gonzaga in 2020. BYU’s previous win over the No. 8 team in the AP Top 25 was against UTEP on March 1, 1984.

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for KSLsports.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch and his BYU basketball coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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