Gonzaga's Dusty Stromer has big game in win over USC Trojans

Freshman wing scored career-best 15 points against Trojans

With six players scoring in double figures, the No. 11 Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the USC Trojans, 89-76, on Saturday in the Legends of Basketball Las Vegas Invitational.

Dusty Stromer finished with a career-high 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from behind the arc, while Ryan Nembhard also tallied 15 points in Gonzaga's fourth consecutive win. The Bulldogs (6-1) jumped out to a 14-point advantage early before USC's backcourt tandem of Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Collier whittled the lead in half heading into the locker room. The Trojans (5-3) never led at any point though, as the Zags remained in control throughout.

Here are three takeaways from Gonzaga's victory.

STROMER FOUND HIS ROLE

Photo by Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Offensively, Dusty Stromer appeared as comfortable as he's ever been in a Gonzaga uniform on Saturday. Evident with a season-high 15 points, the 6-foot-6 freshman showed little hesitation while knocking down four triples, some of which came in transition and others within the flow of the offense. His pace and rhythm have come a long way since the Maui Invitational, and considering he's had career-highs in back-to-back games, his involvement in the offense will continue to grow along with his confidence.

Stromer's first 3-pointer helped set the tone, as he rose up and knocked down a long ball without hesitation in transition right in front of USC's bench. His second triple came not long after to put the Zags up 15-2 within five minutes of action. With so many scoring options around him, Stromer was able to slip through the cracks and play with a controlled pace that allowed for open looks and favorable matchups within USC's zone defense.

Back-to-back games with multiple 3-pointers could translate to more opportunities for Stromer to be a knock-down shooter along the perimeter, a role the Bulldogs need to fill without the services of Steele Venters. The frontcourt has provided outside shooting, but the guards and wings have not been as consistent to this point. Perhaps Stromer has found his role within the offense, which would be a major breakthrough considering his positive impact on the defensive end.

BALANCE BEATS HERO BALL

Photo by Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Gonzaga had heard all week about USC's talented backcourt duo, and to their credit, Boogie Ellis and Isaiah Collier delivered as promised on the Las Vegas stage. The two Wooden Award contenders combined for 42 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists while giving the Zags trouble all night long on the defensive end of the floor. But for all the firepower between the guards, it didn't matter against Gonzaga's balanced attack that saw six different players finish in double-figures for scoring.

Outside of Ellis and Collier, USC shot 10-of-31 from the field, 2-of-12 from deep and scored 32 points. Kobe Johnson, who came into the matchup averaging around 14 points, was held to seven points on 3-of-10 shooting. All night it appeared that if neither one of the starting guards was setting the table offensively, the Trojans struggled to find any source of offense.

Meanwhile, Gonzaga got everyone involved. Anton Watson, the team's leading scorer heading into the USC game, was the only player to get meaningful minutes and not finish with at least 10 points. That says a lot about how effective the selfless style of play that Mark Few orchestrates can be against high-level competition. For those wondering how the team would find ways to score without Drew Timme, Saturday's game is the perfect example of how the Bulldogs continue to be one of the most efficient offenses in the country.

ZAGS THRIVE IN NONCONFERENCE GAMES

Photo by Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

No team in the West Coast Conference has been able to capitalize out of the gate quite like the Bulldogs. The league has posted a 6-14 record against top-100 KenPom teams to start the 2023-24 season, with half of those wins coming via Gonzaga's success in nonconference play.

It's no secret Mark Few has loaded up Gonzaga's non-league schedule with plenty of formidable opponents over the years, and to the program's credit, it's come out with flying colors more often than not. The Bulldogs are 20-7 against top-100 KenPom nonconference teams in the regular season since the start of the 2020-21 season. Seventeen of those victories are either true road games or on neutral site floors, a testament to the program's willingness to test itself no matter the conditions. 

Notably, Gonzaga has owned the Pac-12 in recent years, with a 16-game winning streak over its members that dates back to the 2014-15 season. Few is 45-15 all-time against the conference and will have a chance to extend that streak next week against Washington.

Watch: 'Rapid Fire' with Gonzaga freshman Dusty Stromer