15th ranked Gonzaga beats Bryant 100-76
Sunday, November 10, 2013
In front of a packed house at a place affectionately known as The Kennel, Gonzaga wasted little time displaying why they were voted 15th in the Associated Press Preseason Poll.
6-9 senior Sam Dower had 21 points and 17 rebounds in Gonzaga's season-opening 100-76 win over Bryant on Saturday night in Spokane, WA. The win, before a sellout crowd of 6,000, was Gonzaga's 10th consecutive in a McCarthey Athletic Center season opener.
Dower's previous high in rebounds was 10, set against Xavier in his sophomore season. But with Bryant (0-1) featuring no one taller than 6-8, Dower and 7-1 sophomore center Przemek Karnowski dominated inside. "We don't have the type of size Gonzaga has," said Bryant coach Tim O'Shea said. "But then again, you are talking about a team that has aspirations, legitimate aspirations for a Final Four vs. a program that is in its second year of full Division 1 membership."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNine different players scored for Gonzaga's Bulldogs, led by Providence transfer Gerard Coleman with 15 points. Junior guards Gary Bell Jr. and Kevin Pangos added 14 apiece, and Karnowski had 10 points despite playing only 12 minutes due to foul trouble. Dyami Starks scored a career-high 35 points for Bryant, including 29 in the second half. Alex Francis was the only other Bryant Bulldog in double figures, adding 13, and giving him 1,503 for his career.
The Zags outshot Bryant 54 percent to 45 percent from the floor, despite the visitors' 52 percent clip in the second half. Bryant also struggled to find its range from deep, shooting just 19 percent (4-of-21) from behind the arc.
Though the Zags lost their three top rebounders - including All-American Kelly Olynyk, now with the Boston Celtics - from last season's 32-3 team, the Bulldogs outrebounded Bryant 39-30.
Bryant will hit the road closer to home next time out, traveling to Hanover, NH next Wednesday to face Dartmouth.
