No. 15 Gonzaga Dominates New Mexico State 109-68 in Home Opener
No. 15 Gonzaga defeated New Mexico State 109-68 at the McCarthy Athletic Center, as reported by The Slipper Still Fits. New Mexico State fell to 0-2 all-time against Gonzaga.
High-profile five-star recruit Jalen Davis was in attendance from Bremerton, Washington, alongside almost everyone else on the roster getting minutes, as every Zag except Carter Nilson played, including Alonzo Metz in garbage time.
Davis Fogle and Isiah Harwell scored 22 points each, while Braden Huff added 20 points. Javon Bennett contributed 13 points off the bench for Gonzaga, which improved to 2-0 on the season. Luca Foster and Juwan Ekanga hit back-to-back three-pointers to get a welcome at the Kennel Club.
New Mexico State entered the game with a disciplined offensive scheme and physical interior play. Mark Lavrenov scored 19 points and DJ Dudley added 10 for the Aggies, who dropped to 1-1.
The Aggies outrebounded Gonzaga 16-10 in the first half and exploited the absence of Izan Almansa, who missed the game with a lower leg injury. Lavrenov used polished footwork and physicality to challenge Gonzaga’s frontcourt before the Bulldogs took a 47-42 halftime lead.
Gonzaga hit four 3-pointers during an early 16-2 run to take a 19-8 advantage, before New Mexico State trimmed the deficit to 24-23 with nine minutes left in the half. Coach Jason Hooten devised a solid first-half gameplan for the Aggies.
Gonzaga turned the game around immediately after the intermission. Harwell opened the second half with a three-pointer, sparking a surge that pushed the lead to double digits, building an initial 57-44 lead.
The Bulldogs shot 61% from the floor overall while holding New Mexico State to 44% shooting.
The victory marked the 17th consecutive season Gonzaga has appeared in the preseason AP Top 25. It also served as Mark Few’s first regular-season home game since his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August.
Gonzaga finished the night 13-for-24 from beyond the arc. Xaivian Lee recorded 10 assists and committed only 1 turnover, maintaining a steady presence at the point guard position.
The Bulldogs play their next game against LSU at the Spokane Arena on Saturday, while New Mexico State plays at UTEP on Thursday. Gonzaga finished 31-4 last season, including 14-0 at home.
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