Gonzaga suffers 19-point loss to Tennessee in charity exhibition game

It was a story of two halves for the Gonzaga males’s basketball staff throughout Friday’s exhibition in opposition to Tennessee.

The second-ranked Zags led 54-50 at halftime, however have been outscored by 23 factors within the second half of a 99-80 loss to the No. 11 Volunteers on the Comerica Heart in Frisco, Texas. The sport was organized to boost cash for the McLendon Basis.

“I believe they have been in rather a lot higher form than us,” Rasir Bolton stated to the Spokesman-Evaluate. “They have been simply sharper on their cuts they usually have been flattening quite a lot of threes. That sort of blew the sport open and we could not get again from that.”

Tennessee graduate scholar guard Tyreke Key scored a game-high 26 factors on 8-of-12 capturing from the sector in 27 minutes. The switch from Indiana State stepped up within the absence of injured All-SEC preseason second-teamer Josiah-Jordan James.

Drew Timme led the Zags with 17 factors, regardless of enjoying solely 28 minutes and fouling out with greater than quarter-hour left within the recreation. 

Matched up with Timme for a lot of the recreation was Tennessee 7-footer Uros Plavsic, who went 6-for-6 on his area purpose makes an attempt. 

Zakai Zeigler served because the Vols’ main playmaker. He completed with eight assists and appeared comfy initiating the staff’s offense. 

Gonzaga didn’t have one true ground common, however Nolan Hickman, Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther took on ball-handling duties because the beginning guards. Timme and Anton Watson started the sport within the staff’s frontcourt. 

Transfers Malachi Smith and Efton Reid III got here off the bench in Friday’s contest. Smith had 5 factors and 4 rebounds in 17 minutes, whereas Reid III tallied eight factors and 5 rebounds in 14 minutes. 

“I believe they have been good in spurts,” Bolton stated. “Like I stated, sort of getting used to enjoying with all people and Efton sort of being on the market with Drew and Malachi possibly going from the three to the 4, so sort of simply studying new spots, sort of jelling and with the ability to compete.”

Whereas the result doesn’t depend within the win-loss column, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few understands that any unfavorable consequence holds weight.

“Whether or not it counts or not, individuals are at all times going to mirror again on it,” Few stated. “It’ll make an impression on coaches’ minds and even committee members’ minds although it’s not imagined to depend.”

The Zags return dwelling on Wednesday for an exhibition in opposition to Warner Pacific earlier than their season opener with North Florida on Monday.