Gonzaga survived on the road the last time they faced San Francisco. Will the Bulldogs have an easier time at home?
TV schedule: Thursday, February 7, 9:00 pm ET. Check Local Listings
Arena: McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington
Gonzaga continues to roll on the season, with an overall record of 21-2 (10-0) and riding a 12-game winning streak. After a tough test from San Diego for the first 30 minutes of the game last week, the Bulldogs pulled ahead with an 85-69 win. Rui Hachimura led all scorers with 32 points, while Zach Norvell contributed with 21 points and six rebounds on 5/7 from three-point range.
The 69 points given up to the Toreros was the second-most by a Gonzaga defense in WCC play. The most was 83 on the road at San Francisco, the toughest test for Mark Few’s team in league play. Gonzaga was trailing by a couple of points with under four minutes to go, before putting their foot down late with a 96-83 win. Hachimura had 21 points in the game, with Brandon Clarke leading all players in that game with 24 points and nine boards.
All five San Francisco players were in double figures, led by senior point guard Frankie Ferrari. He and Josh Perkins (16 points) had a fun battle of the veteran ball handlers in the middle of the second half.
Since that game, the Dons 17-5 (5-3) have gone 3-2, including losing their last two on the road. Most recently, Kyle Smith’s squad fell at Saint Mary’s 86-80, unable to complete an epic comeback after being down by around 20 points. Both Ferrari and Charles Minlend had 22 in that game.
This is an important game for both teams in terms of Bracketology. Gonzaga is hanging on to a one seed, while San Francisco is squarely on the bubble, fighting for one of the last spots in the NCAA Tournament. This road bout at Gonzaga is the last chance at a signature victory for the Don’s resume.
The Bulldogs tend to struggle at War Memorial Gymnasium against San Francisco. But it’s a different story in the Kennel, where the Bulldogs and their No. 1 national scoring offense will likely be too much. Expect the Dons to put up a fight like San Diego did this past weekend, with the No. 4 team in the country pulling ahead for another double-digit win.
Prediction: Gonzaga 90 – San Francisco 73
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