NCAA College Basketball Box Scores

National Basketball Association

BOXSCORE | RECAP

Gonzaga 102, South Dakota 65

When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Where: McCarthey Athletic Center, Spokane, Washington
Officials: # Mark Cook, # Coban Lopez, # Dennis Flannery Jr.
Attendance: 6000

By The Sports Xchange

Reserve freshman forward Zach Collins, with a career-high 21 points in No. 7 Gonzaga's 102-65 win over visiting South Dakota on Wednesday in Spokane, Wash., said his growth is a complete turnaround from when he first reported to campus in August.

That was evident in his 9-of-9 shooting from the field in the win that enabled Gonzaga (12-0) to equal its best start in program history. The 1944-45 team also had 12 wins to begin the season. The start is the best for the Bulldogs since they joined the NCAA in 1958-59.

"My confidence is the biggest thing that has improved," said Collins, a 7-foot forward who is Gonzaga's first McDonald's All-American. "I worked really hard over the summer in preseason workouts. Our big guys have gone against each other really hard.

"My confidence since the summer is a complete 180 degrees."

Collins also had all four of Gonzaga's blocked shots against South Dakota, which is 9-6 headed into Summit League play.

"I just wanted to do my job of rim protecting," he said. "I wanted to use my length and size that I have. I am showing the coaches that I can help the guards if their man gets by them. I am showing that I can rim protect."

Point guard Nigel Williams-Goss contributed 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists with no turnovers. The Bulldogs, who next open their West Coast Conference season Dec. 29 against visiting Pepperdine, had 22 assists and only nine turnovers.

"We told them to go home enjoy their time with their families, but we want them to keep that chip on their shoulder and get that edge back when they return," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "They have to stay hungry. We have big things on the horizon, and the only way to get that is to come out and attack."

South Dakota was led by 13 points each from guard Matt Mooney and forward Tyler Flack. The Coyotes made 36.2 percent of their shots, including a 4-of-20 performance from beyond the 3-point line.

A 17-2 run by the Bulldogs opened a 39-20 lead with 4:21 left before halftime. Symbolic of its depth, Gonzaga had seven different players score in that game-turning run, led by guard Williams-Goss's five points.

"We started hanging our heads and we got overwhelmed," South Dakota coach Craig Smith said. "We didn't show a lot of fight. When you play a really good team on the road, they're going to have some runs. You have to have a backbone and stand up to that."

The Coyotes went 1 of 8 from the field and committed two turnovers in that run. Trailing 52-25 at the half, South Dakota was held to 31.4 percent from the field, including 0-of-9 from 3-point range.

Gonzaga, which outscored South Dakota 32-7 to close the first half, shot 60.6 percent by halftime, making 7 of 14 from beyond the arc. They made 12 of 28 from that range in the game, led by guard Jordan Mathews' 3 for 6.

"Gonzaga can beat you in many ways," Smith said. "If you double-team any of their bigs, they are such good passers they can zip it out and any of their guards can hit the 3. They put you in a lot of predicaments."

The Bulldogs outscored South Dakota 36-12 from 3-point range and 42-30 in the paint. They won the rebounding battle 47-37.

NOTES: South Dakota, which also concluded its nonconference schedule, begins Summit League play Dec. 29 when it hosts Omaha. ... Gonzaga G Josh Perkins has made a 3-pointer in 12 straight games to start the season. He was second in the West Coast Conference shooting 54.5 percent from beyond the arc entering the game. He was 1 of 5 against South Dakota. ... Eight different South Dakota players led the team in scoring in its first 15 games. ... Coyotes F Tyler Flack is the lone senior on the team. They have four freshmen, four sophomores and three juniors listed on the roster. ... Gonzaga has led for the entirety of five of its 12 games. The Bulldogs trailed in the second half once this season (Florida).

Top Game Performances

South Dakota		Gonzaga
Tyler Flack 13	Scoring	Zach Collins 21
Trey Burch-Manning 3	Assists	Josh Perkins 5
Tyler Flack 7	Rebounds	Nigel Williams-Goss 9
Brandon Armstrong 2	Free Throws Made	Johnathan Williams 4
Brandon Armstrong 1	Steals	Silas Melson 2
Tyler Flack 1	Blocks	Zach Collins 4

Team Stats Summary

Team	Points	FG%	3PM-3PA	FTM-FTA	Assists	Rebounds	Blocks	Steals	Turnovers
South Dakota	65	36.2	4-21	11-15	12	33	3	5	14
Gonzaga	102	53.4	12-28	12-16	22	43	4	8	9