The Gonzaga men’s basketball team will again to NCAA basketball’s Sweet Sixteen.
The top-ranked Bulldogs overcame a 10-point halftime lead to come back and defeat the University of Memphis 82-78 in a second round game in Portland. It’s the seventh consecutive year the Zags have reached the second weekend of national tournament play. Last year they reached the national championship game to Baylor. On Saturday, Baylor was eliminated from this year’s tournament in an overtime loss to North Carolina.
Drew Timme scored Gonzaga’s first 11 points of the second half as the Zags chipped away and finally took the lead with about 10 minutes left.
Timme led the Bulldogs with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Andrew Nembhard scored 23, including two big three-pointers and several free throws down the stretch. Rasir Bolton had 17, including a three-pointer that stretched the Zags to four with 9:58 remaining.
Gonzaga is 28-3 and destined for a third-round game against Arkansas next Thursday in San Francisco. Arkansas defeated New Mexico State 53-48 earlier Saturday.
Earlier Saturday, the Washington State women’s team lost its first-round game to Kansas State, 50-40. The Cougs led 24-17 at the half, but its offense went stagnant in the second half, while the Wildcats got their inside game going. The Cougars finish their season 19-11, a record number of wins in one season.
On Sunday, the Washington State men’s team plays a second-round game against Southern Methodist Sunday at noon in the National Invitation Tournament in Dallas.
The Gonzaga women play top-seeded Louisville on the Cardinals’ home floor. Game time is 4 pm PDT.
