GONZAGA IS SAN JOSE BOUND
Both teams were ice cold from the field for just over 4 minutes until a lob to forward Johnathan Williams on the fast break end it giving Gonzaga a 20- 8 lead with 6:27 remaining.
Gonzaga begin to butter the roll on Northwestern with a combination of using their defense plugging up the middle lead by Center Przemek Karmowski and excellent shooting by Guard Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga sparked a 12-4 run to go up 20, 32-12 with 3:16 remaining.
Northwestern showed that they got fight left in them as Guard Bryant McIntosh scores at the cup and gets the foul stopping the Wildcats scoring drought making it 32-15 Gonzaga with 2:20 remaining.
Gonzaga dominated the flow of the game so far. Northwestern shot 30% from the field, 1/11 3pt FG and with 8 turnovers they went on a 8-6 run down the stretch to show a sign of confidence and hope for their fans being down to Gonzaga 38-20 to end the 1st half. Bryant McIntosh led Northwestern with 7 pts and Nigel Williams - Goss 14 pts for Gonzaga.
Both teams made adjustments and came out scoring with Northwest leading the charge. The came out aggressive, and showed poise on the defensive end with two steals outscoring Gonzaga 9-3 with Guard/Forward Sanjay Lumpkin breakaway throw down as exclamation point in the process forcing Gonzaga to call a time out trailing 44-29 with 16:05 remaining.
Gonzaga came with their bigs, Fresh Forward Zach Collins made his presence felt with two and one buckets for 6 point from the paint give the Dogs a 53-34 lead with 13:33 remaining.
Northwestern hanging around as forward Vic Law hit two big trae's bringing the Cats within 14, 56-42 with 11:25 remaining. Then forward Nathan Taphorn three ball brings the Cats within 11, 58-47 with 9:29 remaining. It was Taphorn again on a inbound pass hit a NBA three putting Northwestern in single digits Gonzaga now holds a 9 point lead 59-50 with 8:41 remaining.
But Gonzaga stayed the course on the inside presence a scoring and getting to the line. Northwestern had many opportunities to climb back in but struggled on the fast break. But that all changed as Northwestern McIntosh free throws and Law's thunderous dunk off the rebound made it 5 point game at 63-58 forcing Gonzaga to call timeout with 5:29 remaining.
With 4:54 to go Northwestern's Head Coach gets a technical foul expressing that Gonzaga's forward Zach Collins hand went into the basket to block Northwestern's Center Dererk Pardon shot, that would've have made it a 3 point Gonzaga lead instead puts Gonzaga at the line Williams-Goss hit two big freebies and now the Dogs lead 65-58.
Northwestern would not give up nor in as McIntosh hit a big three keeping the Cats within 6, 72-66 with 1:21 to go. the Cats got within 5 on a three ball by Guard Scottie Lindsey making 76-71 Gonzaga with 19.8 to go. Gonzaga fought off the threat of Northwestern winning 79-73. Gonzaga now moves to play 4th seed West Virgina.
Summary: Northwestern foul troubles thru out the game was costly, their inability to score at critical times was not good and it ultimately cost them to lose the game. Gonzaga speed, inside scoring with their bigs, and dictating the flow and temple of the game was what got them the win.
Leading Scorers: Gonzaga- Nigel Williams-Goss 20 pts, 8 rebs, 4 ast Jordan Mathews 14 pts, 7 rebs, Zach Collins 14 pts, 5 rebs. Northwestern- Bryant McIntosh 20 pts, Vic Law 18 pts 8 rebs (17 pts in the second half ), Scottie Lindsey 12 pts. FG: NW: 27/66 (41%) GOZ: 26/59 (44%), 3 PT FG: NW: 8/24 (33%) GOZ: 4/16 (25%), FT: NW: 11/13 (85%) GOZ: 23/36 (64%) REBS: NW: 36 GOZ: 42.
