BYU vs. Gonzaga
The No. 1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs take on the BYU Cougars on Tuesday. The Bulldogs continue their quest for an undefeated season, now 25-0, including 15-0 in the conference.
They blasted St. Mary’s in the conference semifinals on Monday, 78-55. Five players scored in double digits led by Drew Timme with 18. Joel Ayayi had 16 points. Both players were tied for the team lead in rebounds with eight.
Gonzaga shot 64.3% from the field in the first half in taking an 18-point lead. They held the Gaels to 36.1% shooting, including two of 20 from beyond the arc (10%).
Gonzaga is one of the best offensive teams in all of college basketball. They are 25th in field-goal percentage at 48.3% and 27th in three-point shooting at 37.8%. They are averaging 92.3 ppg while allowing 68.8 per contest. Plus, they rank 23rd in the nation in rebounds per game at 39.6 per contest.
𝙐𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙥𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 😤@drewtimme2 pic.twitter.com/KIa9oCu5FZ
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 9, 2021
Corey Kispert leads the Bulldogs in scoring at 19.3ppg. Timme is close behind at 18.9 point per contest and he is the leading rebounder at 7.1 per game. Two other players are averaging in double digits, including Ayayi who is averaging 11.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.
The Cougars are 20-5 overall, 10-3 in the WCC. They narrowly defeated Pepperdine in overtime on Monday, 82-77. BYU was led by Alex Barcello with 23 points and nine rebounds. He hit on six of his 13 shots, including three of five from behind the arc.
He was also eight of eight from the free-throw line. Matt Haarms was also eight of eight from the free-throw line, helping him to 18 points. He added seven rebounds.
BYU is an outstanding shooting team as well. They are 25th in the country from the floor at 48.3% and are shooting 37.8% from three-point range. The Cougars are averaging 78.6 ppg while allowing 67.3 per contest. They are 23rd in the nation in rebounds at 39.6 per game.
Barcello leads to Cougars in scoring at 15.7 ppg. He is shooting 53.3% from the field and 48.9% from beyond the arc. Plus, he is an 84.1% free-throw shooter. Caleb Lohner is the leading rebounder at 6.8 boards per contest. Haarms (11.0) and Brandon Averette (11.4) also are averaging double-digit points per game.
Gonzaga has won the last two meetings between these teams, including an 82-71 victory back on February 8. The Bulldogs are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings.
College Basketball Pick – Gonzaga by 20.
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