March Madness: Gonzaga Defeats Grand Canyon

On Friday night, the third-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs defeated the fourteenth-seeded Grand Canyon Antelopes, 82-70, behind the 28 points and 10 rebounds of Julian Strawther.

The Zags outrebounded Grand Canyon 39-26 and shot 53.6% from the field thanks to All-American Drew Timme's 21 points, six rebounds, and three blocks. Anton Watson added 14 points a

Rayshon Harrison scored 20 points for GCU as the Lopes shot 43% from the field. Gabe McGlothan scored 11 points, Chance McMillan contributed 16 points, four rebounds, and 4 assist

Gonzaga surged off to a 10-0 lead as the Antelopes' offence stalled out of the gate. While the GCU offence had four turnovers in the opening three minutes of play.

The Lopes, however, changed the script, as a 12-0 run ignited a back-and-forth contest that lasted the rest of the half.

Midway through the first half, GCU took a six-point lead thanks to its methodical, slow-moving offence, which is ranked 291st in KenPom's adjusted tempo.

Gonzaga picked up the tempo as Julian Strawther, who went 5-for-6 from the line and finished with a team-high 16 points, assisted the Zags in climbing out of a hole.

The second round of the NCAA Tournament will be played on Sunday, and Gonzaga will play either the 11-seed Arizona State Sun Devils or the 6-seed TCU Horned Frogs.

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