BAYLOR

GONZAG

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Sixth-ranked Gonzaga opens with 101-63 victory over No. 8 Baylor

AP
Nov 05, 2024

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Nolan Hickman scored 17 points, Graham Ike had 15 points and eight rebounds, and No. 6 Gonzaga beat No. 8 Baylor 101-63 at Spokane Arena on Friday night in the teams' season-opener.

Braden Huff added 14 points for the Bulldogs, who got their 19th consecutive season-opening victory. It was Gonzaga's biggest margin of victory over a top-10 opponent in school history, over a team it lost to in the 2021 National Championship game in Indianapolis and the 2022 Peacock Classic in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Norchad Omier had 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Bears. Robert Wright added 12 points and Josh Ojianwuna had 10.

The Bulldogs went on a 24-4 run in the second half to run away with the win. It was the first time Baylor lost by more than 30 points under coach Scott Drew.

Baylor: The Bears missed their first five shots and were 36.2% from the field in the first half. Drew’s squad couldn’t turn things around, ending the game at 37.1%, including 14.3% on 3-pointers.

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs shot 57.1% from the field and 41.9% on 3s while topping 100 points against a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since its 100-90 victory over Alabama on Dec. 17, 2022.

Gonzaga outrebounded Baylor 45-32. The Bulldogs were particularly aggressive on the offensive boards, where they grabbed 16 rebounds to set up 17 second-chance points.

Khalif Battle made three consecutive 3-pointers to put Gonzaga ahead by more than 30 points with just over six minutes to play. The graduate student guard finished with 12 points, all from beyond the arc.

Baylor faces No. 16 Arkansas in Dallas on Saturday, and Gonzaga hosts Arizona State on Sunday.

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1st Half
BAYL
Bears
30
GONZ
Bulldogs
49

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Norchad Omier vs. Graham Ike (Bulldogs gains possession)
19:39		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
19:37		Jayden Nunn defensive rebound
19:07		Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot
19:05		VJ Edgecombe offensive rebound
19:03		VJ Edgecombe misses two point layup
19:01		Norchad Omier offensive rebound
19:00		Graham Ike shooting foul (Norchad Omier draws the foul)
19:00	+1	Norchad Omier makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-0
19:00		Norchad Omier misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:00		Ben Gregg defensive rebound
18:39		Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot
18:37		Graham Ike offensive rebound
18:37	+2	Graham Ike makes two point layup	1-2
18:37		Jayden Nunn shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
18:37		Graham Ike misses regular free throw 1 of 1
18:37		Jayden Nunn defensive rebound
18:14		VJ Edgecombe turnover (lost ball) (Nolan Hickman steals)
18:12		VJ Edgecombe shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul)
18:12	+1	Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 1 of 2	1-3
18:12	+1	Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 2 of 2	1-4
17:58		Jeremy Roach turnover (bad pass)
17:45		Khalif Battle offensive foul
17:45		Khalif Battle turnover (offensive foul)
17:25		VJ Edgecombe misses three point jump shot
17:23		Bears offensive rebound
17:19		VJ Edgecombe misses three point jump shot
17:17		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
17:07	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	1-6
16:47		Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot
16:45		Graham Ike defensive rebound
16:31	+2	Ben Gregg makes two point layup (Graham Ike assists)	1-8
16:17	+2	Norchad Omier makes two point layup	3-8
15:50		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
15:48		Ryan Nembhard offensive rebound
15:47		Jeremy Roach blocks Ryan Nembhard's two point jump shot
15:45		Jeremy Roach defensive rebound
15:40	+2	Jayden Nunn makes two point layup	5-8
15:11		Graham Ike misses two point layup
15:09		Jayden Nunn defensive rebound
15:07		Norchad Omier misses two point jump shot
15:05		Norchad Omier offensive rebound
15:03		Ben Gregg shooting foul (Norchad Omier draws the foul)
15:03		TV timeout
15:03		Norchad Omier misses regular free throw 1 of 2
15:03	+1	Norchad Omier makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-8
14:46		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
14:44		VJ Edgecombe defensive rebound
14:33	+3	Jalen Celestine makes three point jump shot (Robert O. Wright III assists)	9-8
14:07	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	9-11
13:45		Jalen Celestine misses three point jump shot
13:43		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
13:38		Braden Huff misses three point jump shot
13:36		Dusty Stromer offensive rebound
13:34		Dusty Stromer turnover (bad pass) (Josh Ojianwuna steals)
13:28		Braden Huff blocks Jeremy Roach's two point layup
13:26		Josh Ojianwuna offensive rebound
13:22		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
13:22		Robert O. Wright III offensive rebound
13:22		Bears turnover
13:00	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	9-13
12:35		VJ Edgecombe misses three point jump shot
12:33		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
12:30	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	9-16
12:10		Josh Ojianwuna turnover (bad pass) (Nolan Hickman steals)
12:07		VJ Edgecombe blocks Nolan Hickman's two point layup
12:05		Michael Ajayi offensive rebound
11:57	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup	9-18
11:30	+2	Robert O. Wright III makes two point jump shot	11-18
11:18		Braden Huff misses two point layup
11:16		Michael Ajayi offensive rebound
11:14		Michael Ajayi turnover (lost ball) (Josh Ojianwuna steals)
11:14		TV timeout
10:59		VJ Edgecombe turnover (bad pass)
10:46	+2	Braden Huff makes two point dunk (Ben Gregg assists)	11-20
10:37	+3	Jeremy Roach makes three point jump shot	14-20
10:12	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Khalif Battle assists)	14-23
9:54		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
9:52		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
9:44	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup (Khalif Battle assists)	14-25
9:44		Jump ball. Jeremy Roach vs. Dusty Stromer (Dusty Stromer gains possession)
9:25		Jeremy Roach turnover (lost ball) (Dusty Stromer steals)
9:13		Ryan Nembhard turnover (lost ball) (Norchad Omier steals)
8:55	+2	Norchad Omier makes two point layup (Robert O. Wright III assists)	16-25
8:42		Braden Huff misses three point jump shot
8:40		Michael Ajayi offensive rebound
8:39	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point layup	16-27
8:15		Dusty Stromer personal foul
8:00		Jalen Celestine misses three point jump shot
7:58		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
7:46		Khalif Battle misses two point jump shot
7:44		Khalif Battle offensive rebound
7:41		Michael Ajayi misses three point jump shot
7:39		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
7:34	+2	Jayden Nunn makes two point layup	18-27
7:07	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Braden Huff assists)	18-30
6:46		Robert O. Wright III misses three point jump shot
6:44		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
6:44		Jalen Celestine personal foul
6:44		TV timeout
6:22	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot (Dusty Stromer assists)	18-32
6:04		Michael Ajayi personal foul
5:59		Norchad Omier misses two point layup
5:57		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
5:57		Josh Ojianwuna personal foul
5:34	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot	18-34
5:09		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
5:07		VJ Edgecombe offensive rebound
5:03	+2	Robert O. Wright III makes two point layup	20-34
4:38		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
4:36		Graham Ike offensive rebound
4:33		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
4:31		Josh Ojianwuna defensive rebound
4:22	+2	Josh Ojianwuna makes two point dunk (Robert O. Wright III assists)	22-34
4:01		Graham Ike misses two point layup
3:59		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
3:52	+2	Robert O. Wright III makes two point layup	24-34
3:41	+2	Ben Gregg makes two point layup (Graham Ike assists)	24-36
3:41		Norchad Omier shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul)
3:41		TV timeout
3:41	+1	Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 1 of 1	24-37
3:18	+2	Jeremy Roach makes two point jump shot	26-37
3:09		Jalen Celestine personal foul
3:09		Jalen Celestine personal foul
3:09		Graham Ike misses regular free throw 1 of 1
3:09		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
3:00		Michael Ajayi blocks VJ Edgecombe's two point layup
2:58		Graham Ike defensive rebound
2:50		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
2:48		Graham Ike offensive rebound
2:46	+3	Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Graham Ike assists)	26-40
2:24		Robert O. Wright III misses two point jump shot
2:22		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
2:22		Josh Ojianwuna personal foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
2:22	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2	26-41
2:22	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2	26-42
2:08	+2	VJ Edgecombe makes two point layup (Robert O. Wright III assists)	28-42
2:03		Graham Ike turnover (traveling)
1:51		Norchad Omier misses three point jump shot
1:49		VJ Edgecombe offensive rebound
1:48		Khalif Battle blocks VJ Edgecombe's two point jump shot
1:46		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
1:43	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	28-44
1:22		Braden Huff personal foul
1:19		Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot
1:17		Bulldogs defensive rebound
1:05	+2	Ben Gregg makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	28-46
0:43		Norchad Omier misses two point jump shot
0:41		Ben Gregg defensive rebound
0:29	+3	Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	28-49
0:01		Ryan Nembhard personal foul (Jeremy Roach draws the foul)
0:01	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-49
0:01	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 2 of 2	30-49
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
BAYL
Bears
33
GONZ
Bulldogs
52

Time		Play	Score
19:33		Jeremy Roach shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
19:33	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-50
19:33		Graham Ike misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:33		Graham Ike offensive rebound
19:25		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
19:23		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
18:58		VJ Edgecombe turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Nembhard steals)
18:52	+3	Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	30-53
18:45		Norchad Omier turnover (lost ball) (Khalif Battle steals)
18:40		Khalif Battle misses two point jump shot
18:38		Jeremy Roach defensive rebound
18:34		Ben Gregg personal foul
18:34		Norchad Omier turnover (bad pass) (Ben Gregg steals)
18:32		Graham Ike misses two point jump shot
18:30		Ben Gregg offensive rebound
18:19		Norchad Omier shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul)
18:19		Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:19		Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 2 of 2
18:19		Josh Ojianwuna defensive rebound
18:16		Norchad Omier misses two point jump shot
18:14		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
18:13		VJ Edgecombe personal foul
18:03	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	30-55
17:49	+2	Jayden Nunn makes two point jump shot	32-55
17:04		Graham Ike offensive foul
17:04		Graham Ike turnover (offensive foul)
17:02	+3	Jalen Celestine makes three point jump shot (Jeremy Roach assists)	35-55
16:57		VJ Edgecombe blocks Graham Ike's two point jump shot
16:55		Bulldogs offensive rebound
16:29		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
16:27		VJ Edgecombe defensive rebound
16:16		Jeremy Roach misses two point jump shot
16:14		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
16:06		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
16:04		VJ Edgecombe defensive rebound
15:52		VJ Edgecombe misses two point layup
15:50		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
15:45		Norchad Omier blocks Graham Ike's two point layup
15:44		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
15:44		Khalif Battle shooting foul (Norchad Omier draws the foul)
15:44		TV timeout
15:44	+1	Norchad Omier makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-55
15:44	+1	Norchad Omier makes regular free throw 2 of 2	37-55
15:35	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point dunk (Braden Huff assists)	37-57
15:13	+2	Norchad Omier makes two point layup (Jeremy Roach assists)	39-57
15:04		Braden Huff shooting foul (Norchad Omier draws the foul)
15:04	+1	Norchad Omier makes regular free throw 1 of 1	40-57
14:49	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup	40-59
14:31		Dusty Stromer shooting foul (Jeremy Roach draws the foul)
14:31	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-59
14:31	+1	Jeremy Roach makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-59
14:09		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
14:09		TV timeout
14:00		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
13:58		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
13:48	+2	Robert O. Wright III makes two point layup	44-59
13:38		Dusty Stromer turnover (bad pass) (VJ Edgecombe steals)
13:15	+2	Robert O. Wright III makes two point layup (VJ Edgecombe assists)	46-59
13:09		Braden Huff misses two point jump shot
13:07		Bulldogs offensive rebound
13:01	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup	46-61
12:46		Braden Huff personal foul (Norchad Omier draws the foul)
12:41		Norchad Omier misses two point layup
12:41		Norchad Omier misses two point layup
12:39		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
12:24	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists)	46-63
12:09		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
12:07		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
12:00		Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Jeremy Roach steals)
11:42		Robert O. Wright III misses two point jump shot
11:40		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
11:38	+2	Graham Ike makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	46-65
11:37		VJ Edgecombe misses two point jump shot
11:35		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
11:18		TV timeout
11:04	+2	Graham Ike makes two point layup	46-67
10:40		Jalen Celestine misses three point jump shot
10:38		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
10:29		Graham Ike misses three point jump shot
10:27		Norchad Omier defensive rebound
10:13	+2	Norchad Omier makes two point layup (Jeremy Roach assists)	48-67
10:02	+3	Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot	48-70
9:44		Robert O. Wright III misses two point jump shot
9:42		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
9:42		Jalen Celestine personal foul (Michael Ajayi draws the foul)
9:27	+3	Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot	48-73
8:50		Jeremy Roach misses three point jump shot
8:48		Michael Ajayi defensive rebound
8:37		Dusty Stromer turnover (bad pass) (Robert O. Wright III steals)
8:28		Norchad Omier turnover (lost ball) (Graham Ike steals)
8:17		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
8:17		Graham Ike offensive rebound
8:17	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot	48-75
8:17		TV timeout
8:17		Bears 30 second timeout
8:03	+2	Norchad Omier makes two point layup (Robert O. Wright III assists)	50-75
7:33	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot	50-78
7:08		Norchad Omier misses three point jump shot
7:06		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
6:55	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	50-81
6:33		VJ Edgecombe misses two point jump shot
6:31		Graham Ike defensive rebound
6:24	+3	Khalif Battle makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	50-84
6:10		Bears 30 second timeout
6:05	+2	Josh Ojianwuna makes two point dunk (Robert O. Wright III assists)	52-84
5:39		Khalif Battle turnover (lost ball) (Robert O. Wright III steals)
5:26		Braden Huff personal foul
5:26		Josh Ojianwuna misses regular free throw 1 of 1
5:26		Khalif Battle defensive rebound
5:00	+2	Dusty Stromer makes two point dunk (Braden Huff assists)	52-86
4:42		Robert O. Wright III misses two point layup
4:40		Josh Ojianwuna offensive rebound
4:38		Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot
4:36		Jason Asemota offensive rebound
4:36		Dusty Stromer personal foul
4:36	+1	Jason Asemota makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-86
4:36		Jason Asemota misses regular free throw 2 of 2
4:36		Jayden Nunn offensive rebound
4:36		Robert O. Wright III misses three point jump shot
4:36		Josh Ojianwuna offensive rebound
4:36	+2	Josh Ojianwuna makes two point layup	55-86
4:08	+3	Michael Ajayi makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	55-89
3:50		Jayden Nunn misses three point jump shot
3:48		Jalen Celestine offensive rebound
3:40		Robert O. Wright III misses two point layup
3:38		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
3:38		Jason Asemota personal foul
3:37		TV timeout
3:29		Khalif Battle misses three point jump shot
3:27		Braden Huff offensive rebound
3:20	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup	55-91
2:55		Khalif Battle shooting foul (Jayden Nunn draws the foul)
2:55		Josh Ojianwuna misses regular free throw 1 of 2
2:55	+1	Josh Ojianwuna makes regular free throw 2 of 2	56-91
2:47	+2	Michael Ajayi makes two point dunk	56-93
2:05		Robert O. Wright III misses two point layup
2:03		Josh Ojianwuna offensive rebound
2:03		Ismaila Diagne shooting foul (Josh Ojianwuna draws the foul)
2:03	+1	Josh Ojianwuna makes regular free throw 1 of 2	57-93
2:03		Josh Ojianwuna misses regular free throw 2 of 2
2:03		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
1:54		Dusty Stromer turnover (Josh Ojianwuna steals)
1:41	+2	VJ Edgecombe makes two point dunk (Josh Ojianwuna assists)	59-93
1:28		Jun Seok Yeo misses three point jump shot
1:26		VJ Edgecombe defensive rebound
1:12		Jun Seok Yeo personal foul (Josh Ojianwuna draws the foul)
1:12	+1	Josh Ojianwuna makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-93
1:12	+1	Josh Ojianwuna makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-93
1:01		Omar Adegbola shooting foul (Ismaila Diagne draws the foul)
1:01	+1	Ismaila Diagne makes regular free throw 1 of 2	61-94
1:01	+1	Ismaila Diagne makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-95
0:53		Robert O. Wright III turnover (bad pass)
0:44	+2	Jun Seok Yeo makes two point jump shot (Emmanuel Innocenti assists)	61-97
0:30	+2	Robert O. Wright III makes two point jump shot	63-97
0:15		Emmanuel Innocenti misses three point jump shot
0:13		Dusty Stromer offensive rebound
0:10	+2	Ismaila Diagne makes two point jump shot (Joe Few assists)	63-99
0:02		Davidson Hubbard turnover (bad pass) (Joe Few steals)
0:02	+2	Emmanuel Innocenti makes two point layup (Joe Few assists)	63-101
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Emmanuel Innocenti makes two point layup (Joe Few assists)