Feb. 23, 2017
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USDvsGONbox2 
SAN DIEGO -- The USD Toreros hosted the No. 1-ranked and undefeated Gonzaga Bulldogs tonight before a sold-out crowd at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. The visiting Zags dominated at both ends of the floor in earning a 96-38 victory. Gonzaga shot 66.1% from the field overall and made 13-of-25 three-pointers. As good as they were on offense, they were even better defensively in limiting the Toreros to 24.1% shooting and out-rebounding USD 51-20.
"I thought our offense really affected our defense," said Lamont Smith. "When shots didn't fall for us early in the game, we really got down on ourselves and that really catapulted them having some big runs and getting away from us. They (Gonzaga) are outstanding. I was talking about it all week. Where they don't get enough credit is that they are a tremendous defensive team. As good as they are on offense, they are even better on defense."
In the first half the Zags jumped out to an 11-0 lead before freshman Juwan Gray buried a three-pointer with 13:33 left in the half. Gonzaga would extend their lead to 21-5 with Josh Perkins burying a three that capped off four straight makes by the Zags. Olin Carter III would connect from long range, but Perkins would answer with his own trey for a 26-8 lead at 7:18. Back-to-back threes from Cameron Neubauer and Carter would pull the Toreros to within 26-14 with 6:07 to go. Perkins would cash in on his fourth three-pointer of the half to extend GU's lead to 20 points at 34-14. GU would close out the half with a 10-2 run in taking a 44-16 lead at the break.
In the second half it was all Gonzaga as they pulled away to improve to 29-0 overall and 17-0 in the West Coast Conference. The victory clinched the regular-season WCC title. Zags forward Johnathan Williams scored 14 points and collected a game-high 19 rebounds. He was joined in double-digits b Jordan Mathews (15), Josh Perkins (15, 5-8 in 3s), Nigel Williams-Goss (14) and Zach Collins (12). For USD, Carter played the entire game before coming out in the final eight seconds of the game. He converted 6-of-16 shots, including 3-of-9 beyond the arc. Juwan Gray was credited with 5 steals, while Cameron Neubauer led the team with 5 rebounds.
The Toreros close out their regular-season schedule on Saturday when they host the Portland Pilots in a 6:00 p.m. contest. It will be Senior Night and there will be a pre-game tribute honoring team captain Brett Bailey.
