#8/7 Gonzaga (0-0) vs. Alabama State (0-0)
NOV. 5 | 5 P.M. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER | SPOKANE, WASH.
TELEVISION: KHQ/ROOT Sports
 
THE TIP OFF:
- Gonzaga opens regular season play for the 2019-20 season when it hosts Alabama State on Tuesday, at 5 p.m., in the McCarthey Athletic Center.
- Gonzaga is No. 8 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering 2019-20. The ranking matches the second-highest preseason AP rating in program history.
- The Zags have won 15 straight regular season-openers dating back to a 73-66 loss to Saint Joseph's in the 2003 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
- GU has won 30 consecutive regular season home-openers since a 73-65 loss to Boise State on Dec. 7, 1988.
- GU has won all 15 regular season home-openers in the McCarthey Athletic Center and all 20 regular season home-openers under Mark Few.
- In last season's regular season-opener, Gonzaga cruised to a 120-79 win over Idaho State in Spokane. Corey Kispert scored 14 points, while Filip Petrusev added 12.
- Gonzaga returns one starter and five letterwinners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' seventh consecutive West Coast Conference regular season title.
- In 2018-19, the Bulldogs advanced to their 21st straight NCAA Tournament, and fifth consecutive Sweet 16.
- This season, GU welcomes eight new student-athletes, including six freshmen. The Zags' roster features eight underclassmen and three seniors.
- Gonzaga won 33 games last season, including 16-0 in West Coast Conference play. It was the third straight 30-win season, fourth in the last five seasons and fifth in the last seven seasons.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
- This is the first all-time meeting between Gonzaga and Alabama State.
- The Bulldogs are 13-0 against current members from the SWAC, including a 104-67 win over Texas Southern last season in Spokane.
- GU has only faced three programs from the state of Alabama, beating Samford in 1993, winning all three meetings with South Alabama, with the latest in 2013, and topping North Alabama last season, 96-51.
 
SCOUTING THE HORNETS:
- Alabama State, located in Montgomery, was picked to finish fourth in the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason poll as voted on the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
- Jacoby Ross was named Second Team Preseason All-SWAC. He played in 31 games with 26 starts as a sophomore last season, and finished second on the team in averaging 12.6 points per game, while dishing out 2.3 assists per game. He led the team with 68 made three-pointers.
- Tobi Ewuosho averaged a team-high 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game last season. Kevin Holston also returns after leading ASU with 2.5 assists per outing.
- The Hornets' non-conference schedule features eight teams that had 20-plus wins last season, including three with 30-plus victories. Their schedule also features trips to four teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 or further last season in the NCAA Tournament.
- Alabama State went 12-19 last season, including 9-9 in conference play, before ending the season with a loss to Texas Southern in the SWAC Tournament semifinals.
 
SEASON-OPENING SUCCESS:
- The Zags have won 15 straight regular season-openers dating back to a 73-66 loss to Saint Joseph's in the 2003 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic in New York City.
- In last season's regular season-opener, Gonzaga cruised to a 120-79 win over Idaho State in Spokane on Nov. 6.
- The Zags' 120 points were the most-ever scored by GU in a season-opener, and the most scored in any game since 1994.
- The Bulldogs scored 60 points in each half en route to the fifth-highest scoring game in program history.
- Rui Hachimura scored 33 points for the Bulldogs. Zach Norvell added 23 points. Brandon Clarke (15), Corey Kispert (14) and Filip Petrusev (12) all finished in double-figures.
- Gonzaga dished out 29 assists in the victory over Idaho State. The most-ever by a GU team under Mark Few.
- GU has won 30 consecutive regular season home-openers since a 73-65 loss to Boise State on Dec. 7, 1988.
- Gonzaga has won all 15 regular season home-openers in the McCarthey Athletic Center.
- The Bulldogs have won all 20 regular season home-openers under Mark Few.
 
PUTTING ON AN EXHIBITION:
- Gonzaga rolled to a 116-61 win over Lewis-Clark State in the Zags' lone exhibition game of the season.
- The Zags made 67.6 percent of their shots from the field, and outscored LCSC in the paint, 74-12.
- On the defensive side, GU forced 24 turnovers and finished with 18 steals. The Bulldogs outrebounded LC State, 44-29.
- With the score tied 11-11 at the 16:16 mark of the first half, GU went on a 28-2 run over the next six minutes. The Bulldogs led 65-29 at halftime.
- Seven Zags finished in double-digit scoring.
 
DELIGHTFUL DEBUTS:
- In their collegiate debuts in the season-opening exhibition win, Anton Watson and Drew Timme combined for 46 points on 21-of-23 shooting from the field.
- Watson led all scorers with 28 points, while Timme chipped in 18 points, nine rebounds and four blocks. Watson also had nine boards, five assists and three steals.
- Graduate transfers Admon Gilder and Ryan Woolridge both scored 11 points.