SAN FRANCISCO – Gonzaga went more than three months this season without a Quad 1 victory. The Zags fixed that in a hurry this week, racking up two Quad 1s in last five days to enter the post season with momentum in tow.
GU’s Ben Gregg went more than a month without a made 3-pointer, but he found the range Saturday, dropping three triples and scoring 23 points against San Francisco.
Ryan Nembhard can’t seem to go more than a game or two without breaking a record or reaching another milestone. Nembhard’s fifth assist against the Dons gave him 300 for the season. He became just the 21st player in Division I history to reach that figure.
Gregg and Ryan Nembhard guided the Zags to a convincing 95-75 victory over USF in front of 6,347 at Chase Center. Perhaps 60% of the audience at the Golden State Warriors’ home arena were rooting for the Dons.
Read the full recap here.
BOX SCORE
Gonzaga Bulldogs forward Ben Gregg (33) shoots against the San Francisco Dons during the second half of a college basketball game on Saturday, Mar. 1, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. Gonzaga won the game 95-73. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
First half
19:23 – USF 2, GU 0: Zags win the tip, Gregg misses a 3-pointer and Riley makes a layup on the other end to give the Dons the first lead. We’re underway in San Francisco. Game starts on ESPNEWS.
15:42 – GU 11, USF 6: Ike makes a layup through contact at the first media timeout to give GU a 6-0 run and he’ll shoot a free throw when play resumes.
Up-and-down start for Gregg, who misses his first three attempts from the field before making a layup to start the run. Hickman leads with five points on a 3-pointer and a layup.
Dons have three offensive rebounds, but haven’t scored in 2:05.
11:43 – GU 19, USF 15: Huff called for a foul at the U12 media timeout.
Dons hit four of their last five attempts to pull closer behind seven points from Williams.
Zags attempted 3-pointers on four straight possessions, missing three before Nembhard connected from deep. Then Huff hit a pair of baskets to keep GU ahead.
9:45 – GU 26, USF 17: Battle with a quick trigger on a 3-pointer to give the Zags a 7-0 run and USF calls timeout. All Battle on the run with five points and assist to Innocenti on an outlet pass for an easy layup.
7:21 – GU 29, USF 23: Zags build a 10-point lead before the Dons pull it back on some sloppy play from GU.
Williams has 13 points for USF. Gregg missed his third 3-point attempt, 1 of 5 from the field.
3:15 – GU 38, USF 29: Ike misses an easy layup, but grabs the miss and is fouled at the U4 media timeout. He’ll shoot two free throws when play resumes.
Gregg catches fire and scores the Zags last nine points. He has a team-high 13 with three rebounds. Williams has 15 points for USF.
Nembhard has five assists and becomes the 21st player in Division I history to have 300 in a season.
0:57 – GU 45, USF 29: Beasley down with an injury after Nembhard strips him in the backcourt. Zags on a 10-0 run as we close in on halftime. Nembhard with five points and six assists.
Halftime
Gonzaga leads San Francisco 46-31 at the Chase Center in San Francisco, in full control as the two teams vie for the No. 2 seed in the West Coast Conference Tournament.
Ben Gregg leads GU with 14 points, Graham Ike adds eight and Ryan Nembhard has six points and six assists. Balanced offense for the Zags, who shot 57% from the field and hit 5 of 11 3-point attempts.
Both teams have seven turnovers, but the Zags have capitalized and have a 12-4 advantage on points off turnovers.
Marcus Williams doing about everything by himself for the Dons with 17 points. USF is shooting 42% from the field and is 1 of 8 on 3s. Outside of Williams, the Dons are 7 of 24 from the field.
Second half
18:26 – GU 51, USF 34: Hickman starts the second half strong with a 3-pointer and two free throws. He’s the second Zag in double figures with 10 points.
15:05 – GU 60, USF 42: Gregg lighting it up, he’s scored seven of the Zags last nine points and the Dons call timeout.
Gregg with 20 points and six rebounds, he’s 7 of 9 from the field since missing his first three attempts. Ike went to the bench with three fouls.
Williams has 22 points for USF. Dons leading scorer Thomas has two points and is 1 of 10 from the field.
11:50 – GU 66, USF 50: Innocenti called for his second foul at the U12 media timeout.
Gregg hit his third 3-pointer to bring his total to 23 points. Zags have hit six of their last seven attempts to maintain their lead, as the Dons have made four of five.
9:31 – GU 70, USF 54: Thomas jumper, ugly miss from Ajayi and Wang layup leads to a Zags timeout. Few bringing Gregg back in, he’s two points from a career high.
7:39 – GU 76, USF 58: Riley called for a foul at the U8 media timeout. Zags got a couple baskets from Battle, who with 11 points joins Gregg (23), Ike (10) and Hickman (10) in double figures.
5:49 – GU 85, USF 61: Hickman drives for a layup, USF calls timeout and this one is all but over. Nembhard has 14 assists, two off the program single-game record.
3:51 – GU 89, USF 67: Hickman makes a layup through a foul from Gigiberia and will shoot a free throw when play resumes.
Zags hit their last six attempts from the field. Top performers: Nembhard eight points, 14 assists; Gregg 23 points, eight rebounds; Hickman 16 points.
GU going to lock up the No. 2 seed in the WCC Tournament. We’ll be back with a full recap at the buzzer.
Starting fives
Gonzaga starters: Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Khalif Battle, Ben Gregg, Graham Ike.
USF starters: Marcus Williams, Malik Thomas, Tyrone Riley IV, Barry Wang, Carlton Linguard Jr.
📍San Francisco, Calif.
🏟️ #Gonzaga (22-8, 13-4) vs. #USF (23-7, 13-4), 8 p.m., ESPN
📊GU: Graham Ike (17.1 ppg), Ike (7.5 rpg), Ryan Nembhard (9.8 apg)
USF: Malik Thomas (19.3 ppg), Tyrone Riley IV (5.7 rpg), Marcus Williams (4.2 apg) pic.twitter.com/3epmasGJyr
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) March 2, 2025
Pregame
The West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas is still a week away, but the stakes have already been raised for the Gonzaga and San Francisco men’s basketball teams.
The Zags (22-8, 13-4) and Dons (23-7, 13-4) will play for second place in the WCC at the Chase Center in San Francisco tonight. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPN. The winner will gain the coveted No. 2 seed and bye into the WCC Tournament semifinals.
Better yet for Gonzaga, a win will all but ensure its standing as an at-large team for the NCAA Tournament.
The Zags are looking for a second-straight Quad 1 (NET rankings) win, after beating Santa Clara 95-76 on Tuesday, thanks in large part to a breakout performance from freshman center Ismaila Diagne.
USF has won three straight since losing to Gonzaga 88-77 at McCarthey Athletic Center on Feb. 13. The Dons have also won seven of their last eight games, including over Saint Mary’s, the Gaels’ only WCC loss this season.
Emmanuel Innocenti, who missed Tuesday’s game with illness, is warming up at the Chase Center about 80 min. before tip. pic.twitter.com/NKYCAOBHx0
— Theo Lawson (@TheoLawson_SR) March 2, 2025
Here is every team’s efficiency rating at https://t.co/cegyfz96ax compared to their current seed based on recent bracketology.
Teams labeled as “under-seeded” are much stronger than typical for their seed and advance 59% further in the bracket historically 👇 pic.twitter.com/jSX6cuogXg
— Evan Miyakawa (@EvanMiya) February 28, 2025
Series history
Gonzaga holds a 75-22 series lead over San Francisco since 1949 and has won 31 straight since 2012.
Team stats
San Francisco (23-7, 13-4)
Gonzaga (22-8, 13-4)
Points
75.6
87.4
Points allowed
67.3
69.9
Field goal pct.
45.8
50.2
Rebounds
34.9
39.0
Assists
13.9
19.8
Blocks
3.6
3.0
Steals
6.9
7.5
Streak
Won 3
Won 1
Individual leaders
POINTS
PPG
FG%
FT%
Malik Thomas (USF)
19.3
46.8
83.5
Graham Ike (GU)
17.1
59.6
79.4
REBOUNDS
RPG
DRPG
ORPG
Tyrone Riley IV (USF)
5.7
4.0
1.7
Graham Ike (GU)
7.5
5.4
2.1
ASSISTS
APG
TOPG
MPG
Marcus Williams (USF)
4.2
2.5
30.5
Ryan Nembhard (GU)
9.8
2.4
35.1
Game preview
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