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Gonzaga Bulldogs 80, San Diego State Aztecs 67: Live updates recap, highlights from men’s college basketball game

The Bulldogs handed the Aztecs just their fourth double-digit loss at home since 2017

Cole Forsman

Gonzaga assistant coach Brian Michaelson and sophomore guard Dusty Stromer.
Gonzaga assistant coach Brian Michaelson and sophomore guard Dusty Stromer. / Photo by Erik Smith, Myk Crawford
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Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard fueled the Gonzaga men’s basketball team past San Diego State, 80-67, Monday night at the Viejas Arena.

The pair of Naismith Trophy watch listers lived up to their reputation down the stretch of a gritty win for the Bulldogs (4-0). Nembhard and Ike combined for 30 of the team's 38 second-half points, as the latter led the way with 23 points and nine rebounds. Nembhard recorded his third double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 assists.

Braden Huff added 10 points, all in the first half, while Khalif Battle, Nolan Hickman and Ben Gregg combined for 18 points. Gonzaga went 27-of-31 from the charity stripe.

Nick Boyd led the Aztecs (2-1) with 23 points. BJ Davis added 15 points while Wayne McKinney III chipped in 11 points off the bench.

The Bulldogs moved up to No. 3 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll on Monday after their triumphant 113-54 win over UMass-Lowell in Spokane on Friday night.

Here is the live updates recap:

FINAL: Gonzaga 80, San Diego state 67

2ND HALF:

Gonzaga 70, San Diego State 59 (4:24): Nembhard gave the crowd a flex after he extended the Bulldogs' lead to 14 points off a strong layup in traffic. McKinney III nailed the Aztecs' seventh 3-pointer of the game moments later. Byrd went back to the locker room in evident pain about midway through the second half.

Gonzaga 62, San Diego State 53 (7:59): Boyd kept the Aztecs in the fight, as the Bulldogs struggled to contain him in the pick-and-roll.

Gonzaga 59, San Diego State 47 (10:46): Nembhard pushed Gonzaga's lead back to a dozen following a driving layup through the teeth of the Aztecs defense.

Gonzaga 55, San Diego State 45 (11:58): The second half turned into a back-and-forth contest between Ike and Davis, who combined to score 22 of the first 29 points scored after halftime.

Gonzaga 53, San Diego State 42 (15:05): Ajayi knocked down a 3-pointer right in front of the bench to give the Bulldogs their largest lead of the night (48-33, 18:34). The Aztecs responded with a fastbreak score from Davis, who then drilled a second-chance 3-pointer the next possession to make it a 9-point game.

HALFTIME: Gonzaga 40, San Diego State 31: A physical and bruising first half went in favor of the Zags, who were led by Huff's 10 points off the bench. Nembhard had seven points and five assists. Boyd led the Aztecs with 11 points and seven boards.

1ST HALF:

Gonzaga 40, San Diego State 31 (0:25): Nembhard's jumper was blocked by Pharaoh Compton, giving the Aztecs another chance to cut into their deficit before halftime.

Gonzaga 38, San Diego State 29 (1:22): Nembhard drilled a stepback jumper over Coleman-Jones to give the Bulldogs their largest lead (38-25, 3:08). San Diego State responded swiftly to cut its deficit to single digits.

Gonzaga 33, San Diego State 22 (3:51): The Bulldogs went over three minutes without a field goal before Stromer broke the lid off the rim with a 3-pointer from the wing. Despite the drought from the field, the Zags manged to sustain their lead at the charity stripe, where they started 12-of-15 (San Diego State: 3-of-4).

Gonzaga 26, San Diego State 16 (7:19): Bulldogs went ahead by double-digits following a 10-2 scoring run over a 4-minute stretch midway through the first half. The fouls continued to rack up, as Battle picked up his second personal at the 9:24 mark, when Byrd drew a charge on the sixth-year guard.

Gonzaga 16, San Diego State 12 (11:55): Nembhard connected with Huff, who had nine points out of the gate, on a short pick-and-roll to extend Gonzaga's slight lead. Fouls started piling up early for both sides, as the Aztecs reached the bonus at the 13:37 mark after Gregg's second personal.

Gonzaga 9, San Diego State 6 (15:40): Both sides played some stout defense early on. Hickman blocked Boyd's layup attempt to spark a fastbreak the other way, finding Huff in transition to make it 5-0 (18:10). Aztecs got on the board with back-to-back 3-pointers from Coleman-Jones and Boyd. Ike picked up two quick fouls and had to sit at the 18:45 mark.

Pregame injury update: San Diego State sophomore guard Miles Byrd (ankle) will be available for tonight's game.

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Cole Forsman
COLE FORSMAN

Cole Forsman is a reporter for Gonzaga Bulldogs On SI. Cole holds a degree in Journalism and Sports Management from Gonzaga University.

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