#17/18 GONZAGA (10-1) vs. #20/17 MISSOURI STATE (9-1)
DEC. 20 | 6 P.M. | SPOKANE, WASH. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER
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THE TIP-OFF
- Gonzaga will look to improve to 11-1 overall on the season Friday against Missouri State. With a win, Gonzaga will post an 11-1 start to the season for the second time in program history and the second-straight season.
- Gonzaga broke into the Associated Press Top 25 poll at No. 23 following a 76-70 overtime loss at Stanford on Nov. 17. This week, GU held steady in the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 17 while dropping one spot in the Coaches Poll to No. 18.
- Gonzaga carries a 3-1 record against current Missouri Valley Conference teams; the only other program GU has faced from the MVC is Illinois State. This is the second-straight season the Bulldogs have faced Missouri State.
- Friday will be the 12th time the Zags have played on Dec. 20 in program history. Gonzaga carries a 5-6 record on the date; the last time the Bulldogs played on Dec. 20 was during the 2014-15 season. The majority of teams Gonzaga has faced on Dec. 20 have been out of the Big Sky Conference. Seven of the 11 opponents GU has faced on the date are out of the Big Sky.ga currently ranks second in the nation in percent attendance capacity. The Zags average 91.56 percent capacity; that's an average of 5,494 fans that fill McCarthey Athletic Center every game. 
- Gonzaga returns two starters and seven letter-winners from last season's squad that claimed the Zags' third consecutive and 15th overall West Coast Conference regular season title.
- In 2018-19, the Bulldogs advanced to their third-straight NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Second Round.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
- Missouri State returns 12 letter winners and four starters from last season's squad that finished 25-10 overall and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. The Bears eventually lost to No. 2 Stanford 55-46.
- The Lady Bears return 79 percent of their scoring, 84 percent of rebounds, 73 percent of assists, 78 percent of steals, 90 percent of blocked shots and 83 percent of minutes.
- Three Lady Bears--Brice Calip, Jasmine Franklin and Alexa Willard--earned honorable mention All-MVC honors last season, nine players on the roster appeared in at least 32 games with at least 12 minutes per contest, and all 12 returners played in at least 10 games a season ago.
- This season, Missouri State was picked to finish second in the Missouri Valley Conference behind 2018-19 regular-season champion Drake.
- Through 10 games, Missouri State carries a 9-1 overall record. The Lady Bears average 76.8 points per game shooting 45.5 percent from the field including 40.3 percent from long range.
- Three players average double-figures for the Lady Bears, led by Willard at 17.8 points per contest. Calip adds 13.4 points per contest while Franklin chips in 12.3.
- Missouri State averages 39.7 rebounds per game with a +8.6 rebounding margin. Two players average over 6.0 rebounds per game, led by Franklin at 9.6 rebounds per game (52nd nationally). Emily Gartner adds 6.7 rebounds per contest.
- The Lady Bears have played two ranked opponents so far this season: then No. 23 Minnesota (W, 77-69) and then-No. 7 Oregon State (L, 80-69). Missouri State broke into the AP Top 25 on Dec. 2 following a 74-66 victory over (RV) South Dakota on the road. The Lady Bears have been ranked in the Coaches Poll since Nov. 18, following their 80-69 loss at Oregon State on Nov. 17. Most recently, Missouri State is ranked 20th in the AP poll and 17th in the Coaches Poll.
 
SERIES REVIEW
HOME: 0-0, First meeting in Spokane
ROAD: 1-1, Series tied
NEUTRAL: 1-0 Gonzaga leads
LAST MEETING: Gonzaga won 70-67 in Springfield (12/16/19)
FIRST MEETING: MSU won 85-66 in Springfield (3/21/05)
 
TOP 20 MATCHUP IN McCARTHEY
Friday's game will be the second-ever top 20 matchup inside the McCarthey Athletic Center. Previously, then- No. 20/19 Gonzaga hosted No. 8/8 UCLA inside McCarthey in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament on March 21, 2011. The Zags won that game 89-75 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. There are two other games against ranked opponents that Gonzaga has hosted inside McCarthey while also ranked inside the Top 25:
- 23/24 GU vs. 12/11 Rutgers (3/17/12, W, 86-73)
- 23/24 GU vs. 8/9 Miami (3/19/12, W, 65-64)
 
PERFECTION FROM THE LINE
Dec. 17 at Wyoming, Gonzaga finished a perfect 16-of-16 from the charity stripe. It's the first time the Zags have posted a 100 percent shooting performance from the charity stripe this season, and it's the seventh time in program history the Bulldogs have shot 100 percent (minimum 10 attempts) from the line since 1999. And get this--the last four times the Zags have converted all of their free throws they've finished 16-of-16.
- 12/17/19           at Wyoming        16-of-16
- 3/6/18               vs. San Diego      16-of-16
- 2/17/11             at Santa Clara    16-of-16
- 3/23/09             vs. Pittsburgh      16-of-16
The record for perfection from the charity stripe (since 1999) is 24-for-24, which GU converted at Saint Mary's on Feb. 3, 2005.