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Gonzaga 100, Jackson State 76: Live updates recap, highlights

Bulldogs dominated in tune-up game against Tigers

Cole Forsman

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The No. 15 Gonzaga Bulldogs got back in the win column on Wednesday when they defeated Jackson State, 100-76, in the first head-to-head matchup between the programs.

The Zags (9-3) led by as many as 37 points in the second half after controlling the pace throughout the night. After an off night offensively against No. 5 UConn on Saturday, Gonzaga tallied 20 assists on 34 made field goals and shot 52.3% from the field to cross the 100-point threshold for the third time this season.

Five players scored in double-figures, paced by Graham Ike's 22 points and 11 rebounds. Nolan Hickman chipped in 18 points, while Braden Huff had 17 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Ryan Nembhard had himself an all-around game with 11 points, six assists and five rebounds.

The Tigers (4-8) shot 33.3% from the field and 13-of-32 from distance. They managed to cut their deficit to single-digits late in the first half before the Bulldogs rattled off a 6-0 scoring spurt to lead by a dozen at halftime.

Redshirt junior Ken Evans Jr. paced in scoring with 23 points. Senior guard Chase Adams had 14 points and five assists.

Gonzaga is 19-0 against current Southwestern Athletic Conference members including wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State this season. The Zags are back in action on Dec. 29 when they host San Diego State.

Here is the live updates recap:

SECOND HALF:

FINAL: Gonzaga 100, Jackson State 76

Gonzaga 94, Jackson State 61 (3:12): Gonzaga's reserves checked in to close out the final minutes of another blowout victory at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Jun Seok Yeo racked up six points in a four minute span to go along with three rebounds. 

Gonzaga 79, Jackson State 49 (7:41): Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas midway through the second half. Following another defensive stop, Hickman found Nembhard in transition for a reverse layup. Five Bulldogs tallied double-figures in scoring.

Gonzaga 67, Jackson State 45 (11:14): Nembhard dished out his fifth assist of the night when he found Watson curling around the lane before getting an easy layup to go. Nembhard took a hard fall the ensuing Gonzaga possession, as he was fouled on a layup attempt by Jayme Mitchell.

Gonzaga 57, Jackson State 39 (14:05): Mitchell made the Tigers' sixth triple of the night, which prompted a timeout from Few. With his second steal of the night, Watson moved into second all-time in program history with 179 career steals.

Gonzaga 55, Jackson State 34 (15:33): Huff continued his perfect start to the night with a turnaround jumphook over the Tigers defense, as the 6-foot-10 redshirt freshman started 5-of-5 from the floor. Gonzaga made six of its first 10 field goals in the second half, while Jackson State missed eight of its first nine from the field.

Gonzaga 51, Jackson State 29 (17:44): Bulldogs came out of the locker room guns blazing and went on a 10-0 scoring run to extend their lead over the Tigers. Stromer drained his second triple of the night from the corner after Watson slapped the ball out of the Evans Jr. the possession prior. Jackson State missed its first three shots of the half.

FIRST HALF:

HALFTIME: Gonzaga 41, Jackson State 29: The Bulldogs led by double-digits for most of the first half, as they shot 53.6% from the field and outscored the Tigers 20-4 in the paint. Jackson State cut its deficit to eight points following a triple from Coltie Young before Gonzaga rattled off six straight points in the final two minutes. Huff led all scorers with 10 points.

Gonzaga 35, Jackson State 22 (3:55): Both teams hit a scoring lull down the stretch of the first half, as the Zags missed four of five shot attempts over a two minute stretch yet still hung onto their double-digit lead. Gonzaga started 13-of-24 from the field, while Jackson State was 9-for-28.

Gonzaga 31, Jackson State 15 (7:40): Gonzaga's backup frontcourt helped spark a 10-2 scoring spurt, capped off by an and-one layup in transition from Ben Gregg. Huff got the run started with a two-hand dunk via a perfect pass from Nembhard. 

Gonzaga 19, Jackson State 9 (11:30): Bulldogs took advantage of a woeful shooting start from the Tigers to extend their first half lead via an 11-0 scoring run. Watson drilled a 3-pointer off a pick-and-pop set with Nembhard. Keijuan Johnson found Treyon Johnson for a two-hand dunk to stop the bleeding for Jackson State.

Gonzaga 13, Jackson State 7 (13:47): Watson found Stromer from the left wing for Gonzaga's second triple of the night.

Gonzaga 8, Jackson State 5 (15:52): Hickman drained a 3-pointer and knocked down a floater in transition to give the Bulldogs some offense out of the gate. The Tigers started 2-of-9 from the floor, as Adams scored their first five points. 

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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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