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
2024-25 West Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's | 6-0 | - | 16-3 |
| San Francisco | 6-2 | 1 | 16-5 |
| Washington State | 5-2 | 1.5 | 15-5 |
| Gonzaga | 5-2 | 1.5 | 14-6 |
| Santa Clara | 5-2 | 1.5 | 13-7 |
| Oregon State | 4-3 | 2.5 | 14-6 |
| Loyola Marymount | 3-4 | 3.5 | 11-8 |
| Pepperdine | 1-5 | 5 | 7-12 |
| Portland | 1-6 | 5.5 | 6-14 |
| Pacific | 1-6 | 5.5 | 6-15 |
| San Diego | 1-6 | 5.5 | 4-16 |
2024-25 Atlantic Coast Conference Standings
| Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duke | 8-0 | - | 16-2 |
| Louisville | 8-1 | 0.5 | 15-5 |
| Clemson | 7-1 | 1 | 15-4 |
| Wake Forest | 7-1 | 1 | 15-4 |
| SMU | 5-3 | 3 | 14-5 |
| North Carolina | 5-3 | 3 | 12-8 |
| Florida State | 4-3 | 3.5 | 13-5 |
| Stanford | 4-3 | 3.5 | 12-6 |
| Pittsburgh | 3-4 | 4.5 | 12-6 |
| Syracuse | 3-4 | 4.5 | 9-9 |
| Virginia Tech | 3-4 | 4.5 | 8-10 |
| California | 2-5 | 5.5 | 9-9 |
| NC State | 2-5 | 5.5 | 9-9 |
| Notre Dame | 2-5 | 5.5 | 8-10 |
| Virginia | 2-6 | 6 | 9-10 |
| Georgia Tech | 2-6 | 6 | 8-11 |
| Boston College | 1-7 | 7 | 9-10 |
| Miami | 0-7 | 7.5 | 4-14 |
Men's College Basketball News