Feb. 17, 2005

Box Score

By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press Writer

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Derek Raivio scored 29 points as No. 13 Gonzaga beat San Diego 90-73 Thursday to retain first place in the West Coast Conference.

J.P. Batista added 19 points for Gonzaga (20-4, 10-2 WCC), which has won seven games in a row and reached 20 wins for the eighth consecutive season. Gonzaga is 35-0 at home when ranked and has a 23-game winning streak at home, tied for third longest in the nation.

Ronny Turiaf had 15 points and 13 rebounds for his third consecutive double-double and the 23rd of his career. He also moved past Richie Frahm for sixth on the Gonzaga scoring list with 1,627 points.

San Diego (13-11, 5-6 WCC) got 26 points and 13 rebounds from Brandon Gay. Nick Lewis added 12 points for the Toreros.

Gonzaga took an early 25-18 lead despite a slew of turnovers as San Diego made only seven of its first 28 shots. But a field goal and 3-pointer by Gay and a 3-pointer by Floyd North enabled the Toreros to close to 30-28 with three minutes left in the first.

Consecutive 3-pointers by Raivio and a basket by Adam Morrison, all in the final 48 seconds, gave Gonzaga a 42-32 halftime lead. The Bulldogs made 55 percent of their shots in the half, while San Diego made just 34 percent.

A 6-0 run early in the second period helped Gonzaga build a 54-38 lead, and then play turned rough.

Technicals were called on San Diego's Corey Belser and coach Brad Holland after a dispute over a foul midway through the half. Raivio made all four free throws for a 74-55 lead.

A technical foul was called on Gonzaga's Morrison for a hard foul shortly after, and Gay made all four of the free throws as part of an 8-0 San Diego run that cut Gonzaga's lead to 76-65.

Turiaf and Batista responded with dunks and the Toreros did not threaten again.

Raivio was 5-of-6 from 3-point range and made all 12 free throws, while adding seven assists.

Former Gonzaga star Dan Dickau, now playing for New Orleans, attended the game.