Bolton scores 17 as No. 3 Gonzaga beats Tarleton State 64-55
Duke outlasts Gonzaga in potential Final Four preview
Paolo Banchero's 20 first-half points propel Duke to the win over Chet Holmgren and top-ranked Gonzaga.
SPOKANE, Wash. -- — Rasir Bolton scored 17 points and Chet Holmgren added 15 as No. 3 Gonzaga beat Tarleton State 64-55 on Monday night, rebounding from a narrow loss to Duke last week that knocked the Zags out of the top spot in The Associated Press' Top 25.
Duke replaced Gonzaga as No. 1 on Monday, ending a string of 20 consecutive weeks the Bulldogs held the top ranking.
Drew Timme scored 10 points for Gonzaga (7-1), which extended its program record by winning its 56th consecutive home game.
Tahj Small scored 25 points for Tarleton State (1-6), which is in its second season of transitioning to Division I.
The Texans, who start four guards and a guard/forward, used an aggressive swarming defense to disrupt Gonzaga for most of the game.
The Zags, who average 90 points and lead the nation in field goal shooting, led 26-25 at halftime. They shot just 35% in the first half and committed nine turnovers while going seven minutes without a field goal.
Small's 3-pointer early in the second gave Tarleton State a 30-28 lead. But a basket by Timme and a 3-pointer by Holmgren put Gonzaga up 33-30.
The teams traded baskets, and Bolton's 3-pointer lifted Gonzaga to a 49-45 lead with 8:30 left.
Two free throws by Timme and a pair of baskets by Holmgren put Gonzaga up 55-47 with four minutes left.
Bolton sank a pair of baskets for a 59-49 lead with two minutes left.
BIG PICTURE
Tarleton State: Who built the scrappy Texans' schedule? They have already lost to No. 8 Kansas and No. 24 Michigan this season, along with Wichita State ... Tarleton has not shot above 40% this season against a D-I opponent.
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs lead the nation with 99 consecutive appearances in the Top 25, but barely escaped the Texans after a ragged night of shooting and 16 turnovers ... The Zags lead the nation in shooting at 55.2%.
UP NEXT
Tarleton State: Hosts Charleston Southern on Sunday.
Gonzaga: Plays No. 16 Alabama in the Battle in Seattle on Saturday.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Bert Smith
- Michael Greenstein
- Kipp Kissinger
2023-24 West Coast Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Saint Mary's | 15-1 | - | 26-8 |
Gonzaga | 14-2 | 1 | 27-8 |
Dayton | 14-4 | 1 | 25-8 |
San Francisco | 11-5 | 4 | 23-11 |
Santa Clara | 10-6 | 5 | 20-13 |
San Diego | 7-9 | 8 | 18-15 |
Pepperdine | 5-11 | 10 | 13-20 |
Loyola Marymount | 5-11 | 10 | 12-19 |
Portland | 5-11 | 10 | 12-21 |
Pacific | 0-16 | 15 | 6-26 |
2023-24 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
North Carolina | 17-3 | - | 29-8 |
Duke | 15-5 | 2 | 27-9 |
Virginia | 13-7 | 4 | 23-11 |
Pittsburgh | 12-8 | 5 | 22-11 |
Clemson | 11-9 | 6 | 24-12 |
Syracuse | 11-9 | 6 | 20-12 |
Wake Forest | 11-9 | 6 | 21-14 |
Virginia Tech | 10-10 | 7 | 19-15 |
Florida State | 10-10 | 7 | 17-16 |
NC State | 9-11 | 8 | 26-15 |
Boston College | 8-12 | 9 | 20-16 |
Georgia Tech | 7-13 | 10 | 14-18 |
Notre Dame | 7-13 | 10 | 13-20 |
Miami | 6-14 | 11 | 15-17 |
Louisville | 3-17 | 14 | 8-24 |