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Gonzaga Bulldogs 86, Portland Pilots 65: Live updates recap, highlights from WCC men's basketball game [2/22/24]

Bulldogs handled their business against the Pilots in Portland

Cole Forsman

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The Gonzaga Bulldogs raced away from the Portland Pilots in an 86-65 victory on Thursday night.

Graham Ike led the way with 20 points and 14 rebounds, his seventh double-double of the season, while Nolan Hickman added 19 points, knocked down four 3-pointers and snatched six rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 50.7% from the field and had 21 assists on 35 made field goals.

Gonzaga (21-6, 11-2 WCC) has won five consecutive games heading into a pivotal three-game stretch to close league play against Santa Clara, at San Francisco (Feb. 29) and at No. 18 Saint Mary's (March 2). The Bulldogs have averaged 92.8 points during their win streak.

Tyler Robertson led the Pilots (9-20, 3-11 WCC) with 18 points and five 3-pointers to go with eight rebounds. Tyler Harris added 12 points and five rebounds. Portland shot 37.1% from the field and committed just two turnovers in its fifth-straight loss.

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Gonzaga has won 17 straight head-to-head meetings with Portland, the latest being a 96-64 win at The Kennel two weeks ago. The Bulldogs held the Pilots' leading scorer Tyler Robertson (16.1 points per game) to just five points while knocking down a season-high 15 3-pointers. The Bulldogs are 45-2 in the series under Mark Few.

Here is the live updates recap:

FINAL: Gonzaga 86, Portland 65

SECOND HALF:

Gonzaga 79, Portland 59 (2:58): Ike found a cutting Watson to extend the Bulldogs' largest lead of the night. Watson and Robertson exchanged pleasantries down the stretch after Watson hit the Pilots guard in the neck on a layup attempt, moments after Robertson blocked Watson's layup attempt. Watson returned the favor with a rejection of his own, leading to a score from Ike. 

Gonzaga 69, Portland 55 (7:52): Bulldogs miss four-straight from the field after two airballs from Ike, while Vasilije Vucinic continued to give the Pilots a spark off the bench with eight points early in the second half.

Gonzaga 67, Portland 48 (11:45): Hickman gave the Bulldogs their largest lead with his third 3-pointer of the night off a dish from Nembhard. Gonzaga made 10 of its first 13 field goals in the second half, six of which were assisted. Vucinic gave the Pilots two scores off the bench.

Gonzaga 54, Portland 39 (16:01): Bulldogs made their first five field goals out of the halftime break to maintain a comfortable lead over the Pilots. Robertson drew Watson's third foul of the game, followed by an offensive foul charge on Gregg. Robertson nailed another 3-pointer, though Hickman answered the next Gonzaga possession.

HALFTIME: Masic beat the buzzer with a left-handed layup around Ike to cut the Pilots' deficit to 13 at the break. Gregg led all scorers with 13 points and three 3-pointers while Hickman added 10 points. Bulldogs shot 52.9% from the floor and had 12 assists on 18 made field goals. Robertson led the home team with eight points.

FIRST HALF:

Gonzaga 43, Portland 28 (0:34): Krajnovic gave Gonzaga some strong play down the stretch on both ends of the floor. After a contest on Austin's fastbreak layup attempt, the 6-foot-5 freshman snatched a rebound, dished to Nembhard who hit Hickman for a 3-pointer.

Gonzaga 40, Portland 26 (2:00): Ike found a cutting Gregg for a bucket at the rim to extend the Bulldogs' double-digit lead. 

Gonzaga 36, Portland 22 (4:23): A follow-up slam from Harris cut the Pilots' deficit to single-digits before the Bulldogs rattled off three-straight scores. Nembhard got a second-chance floater to drop, followed by a drive and score on the fastbreak from Watson. Ike got a score inside the next possession to force a timeout from Portland.

Gonzaga 30, Portland 17 (7:18): Gregg continued his hot start playing in his hometown, as the junior had 11 points early after he got his second 3-pointer to fall. Harris answered the call on the other end with the Pilots' third triple, followed by a stumbling Robertson getting a layup to go over Hickman. 

Gonzaga 20, Portland 10 (11:34): Robertson drew Watson's second offensive foul of the half, forcing the Bulldogs' senior to take a rest at the 12:33 mark. Robertson nailed his second 3-pointer of the night followed by back-to-back scores from Hickman.

Gonzaga 10, Portland 3 (15:11): Bulldogs got out in front early after a 7-0 scoring spurt capped off by a hustle play from Watson that led to a score from Nembhard in the lane. Portland missed six of its first seven shots with its lone make being a 3-pointer from Robertson.

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Published
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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