Jan. 29, 2011
Box Score
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Redshirt freshman Sam Dower came off the bench to score a career-high 27 points, helping Gonzaga snap a three-game losing streak by beating San Diego 86-53 on Saturday night.
Steven Gray had 12 points for the Bulldogs (14-8, 4-3 West Coast Conference), and Marquise Carter added 10. Gonzaga shot 59.3 percent (32 of 54). All 12 Bulldogs saw time on the floor, and 10 scored.
The Toreros (4-18, 0-7) were led by Devin Ginty with 20 points. San Diego shot just 35.4 percent, was outrebounded 37-27 and trailed by as many as 34 points.
Dower went 11 of 12 from the field and grabbed seven rebounds. It has been a breakout homestand for Dower, who scored 15 points in a loss to Saint Mary's on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs are in unfamiliar territory - looking up in the conference standings. Gonzaga got some good news earlier in the night as Portland handed league-leading Saint Mary's its first conference loss.
The teams traded baskets early in the second half before the Bulldogs went on a 13-2 run, pushing their lead to 59-33 with 12:30 remaining. Gray had two of his four 3-pointers during the run. Ginty's 3-pointer ended the spurt as well as the Toreros' 5-minute scoreless streak.
The Bulldogs got a huge boost off their bench, which scored 57 points, four more than the entire San Diego team. It was just the second time all season that Carter, a backup point guard, had scored in double figures. David Stockton scored nine points and had four assists in 27 minutes.
zaga and San Diego were tied 8-8 before Gonzaga went on a 12-0 run, fueled by eight points from Dower. The Bulldogs held the Toreros scoreless for a little over 6 minutes and had an 18-point lead late in the half.
zaga led 40-24 at halftime, as San Diego shot just 34.8 percent (8 of 23). Gonzaga's bench outscored its starters 23-17 thanks to Dower's 12 points on 6-for-6 shooting.
Gonzaga hasn't lost four West Coast Conference games in the 12-year Mark Few coaching era. The last time that happened was during the 1997-98 season, when Dan Monson coached the team. The Bulldogs lost six straight WCC games in 1994-95.
Toreros are coached by Bill Grier, who was a longtime Gonzaga assistant coach. Grier is in his fourth year at San Diego after 16 years with Gonzaga.
