Gonzaga Bulldogs 91, LMU Lions 74: Live score updates, highlights from WCC men's basketball game [2/15/24]

Bulldogs finish game on a 19-3 scoring run to pull away from the Lions

The Gonzaga Bulldogs withstood quite the punch from the Loyola Marymount Lions at the Gersten Pavilion on Thursday before pulling away late for a 91-74 win.

Will Johnston led the fight for the Lions, who only had six scholarship players due to injuries, though the 6-foot-3 junior more than made up for the lack of depth with 33 points and seven 3-pointers to keep his team in the fight all night long.

After trailing 47-46 at halftime, LMU withstood a 13-0 scoring run from Gonzaga to make it a 72-71 game with 8:21 left. Johnston had back-to- back triples amid an 8-2 burst to cut into their deficit, while the Bulldogs struggled to get the ball inside to their posts against the Lions' zone defense.

After a score from Justin Wright made it a one-point game, Gonzaga closed on a 19-3 scoring run. Anton Watson had two key blocks down the stretch, while Ryan Nembhard was wheeling and dealing in transition en route to a 16-point, 11-assist night for the Bulldogs (19-6, 9-2 WCC).

Graham Ike had 23 points, 16 of which came in the second half, while Nolan Hickman had 22 points and four 3-pointers. Ben Gregg had 15 points and Watson had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Here is the live updates recap:

FINAL: Gonzaga 91, LMU 74

SECOND HALF:

Gonzaga 87, LMU 73 (1:53): Nembhard and Hickman get back-to-back scores in the paint to give the Bulldogs their largest lead of the night. Wright stopped the bleeding with a layup along the baseline. 

Gonzaga 83, LMU 71 (4:54): Bulldogs extended their lead with an 11-0 scoring run. LMU committed back-to-back turnovers, leading to a 3-pointer from Hickman and a fastbreak bucket from Gregg. Lions went almost four minutes without a basket.

Gonzaga 74, LMU 71 (7:07): Watson delivered two big-time blocks to keep the Lions off the scoreboard. The first denial came against Hill, who tried to rise and finish at the rim before Watson slapped the layup away, followed by a rejection from behind on a jumpshot from Johnston. 

Gonzaga 66, LMU 61 (11:35): Lions responded to Gonzaga's scoring run with an 8-0 burst of their own. Johnston was left wide open on a miscommunication from Nembhard and Hickman, followed by a one-hand slam from Lars Thiemann on a flashy pass from Hill. 

Gonzaga 60, LMU 50 (15:05): Bulldogs amped up the defensive intensity to gain control early in the second half, as they forced five turnovers in LMU's first seven possessions. Nembhard intercepted an entry pass to start a fastbreak run, leading to a score from Gregg on the other end.

Gonzaga 56, LMU 50 (16:40): Bulldogs rattled off a 7-0 scoring run after Hickman nailed his third 3-pointer in front of Gonzaga's bench. Ike and Watson were a handle on the offensive glass, as the Bulldogs had 19 second-chance points to LMU's two.

HALFTIME: Gonzaga 47, LMU 46: Johnston beat the buzzer to finish the half with 22 points and breath life into the Lions, who shot 58.1% from the floor and 8-of-13 on 3-point attempts. Hickman's 12 points led Gonzaga, while Watson and Gregg had 11 each. Bulldogs had just 12 points in the paint but was 8-of-14 from downtown.

FIRST HALF:

LMU 44, Gonzaga 43 (1:26): A corner 3-ball from Wright off sloppy play from Gonzaga capped an 8-0 scoring run from the Lions.

Gonzaga 41, LMU 36 (3:24): It was raining 3-pointers at Gersten Pavilion. Maerkviladze kept the Lions in striking distance with a triple, only for Gregg to get the points right back moments later. Johnston continued his hot start with a stepback 3-pointer, answered by Nembhard the next possession. Gonzaga started 8-of-13 from downtown, LMU was 6-of-11.

Gonzaga 31, LMU 24 (7:58): Hickman drilled two 3-pointers to push the Bulldogs' lead up to nine, followed by Johnston's fourth field goal of the night. Gonzaga assisted on eight of its first 10 field goals. 

Gonzaga 21, LMU 17 (12:04): Nembhard found Watson in the corner with a sweet behind the back bounce pass, leading to Gonzaga's fourth 3-pointer of the night and capping a 7-0 scoring run. Johnston and Hill drained back-to-back triples to take a 3-point lead before Ike got a jump hook to go.

Gonzaga 12, LMU 11 (15:41): Both sides came ready to play with pace. Bulldogs jumped out to an 8-2 lead on a pair of 3-pointers from Gregg and Nembhard before the Lions responded through Johnston, who had a triple himself and two jumpers off inbound sets.

Gonzaga must stay laser-focused on the road against Loyola Marymount: 'Nobody on this roster wants there to be a slip up'