Zags Dunk Their Way To Blowout Win
SPOKANE, Wash. — Freshman Zach Norvell Jr. scored 18 points and freshman Corey Kispert added 13 as No. 17 Gonzaga pounded Howard 106-69 on Tuesday night.
Johnathan Williams and Rui Hachimura each scored 12 points for Gonzaga (2-0), which last season won its first 29 games and lost in the NCAA championship game to North Carolina.
R.J. Cole scored 16 points for Howard (0-3), which is playing 13 of its 16 non-conference games on the road.
Howard shot just 30 percent in the game and was outrebounded 51-33. Gonzaga made 14 3-pointers.
Gonzaga hit four 3-pointers in the early going and jumped to an 18-5 lead.
After a Howard basket, the Zags scored 13 straight points for a 31-8 lead. Hachimura dribbled the length of the court and slammed home a dunk, then hit the resulting free throw, to highlight the run.
Two 3-pointers by Nate Garvey brought Howard within 39-18, but the Zags quickly pulled away again to lead 54-27 at halftime.
Howard shot just 27 percent in the first half, compared to nearly 58 percent for Gonzaga, and was outrebounded by the taller Zags 31-14 in the first.
Gonzaga pushed the lead to 30 points early in the second half and the Bison did not threaten again.
This is the third meeting between the programs, but the first in 27 years. The Zags have won all three.
Williams surpassed the 1,000-point mark in his career, which includes two seasons at Missouri.
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