SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Gonzaga's
Josh Perkins had a historic week for the No. 1/1 Zags (27-2, 14-0 WCC). He helped Gonzaga complete an undefeated home schedule and wrapped up the final home games of his career by scoring 31 points and dishing out 16 assists.
The redshirt senior broke the program's career assist record set by Matt Santangelo from 1996 to 2000. He needed eight assists to break the record Thursday, and finished with nine in the Bulldogs' 92-64 win over Pepperdine.
Perkins added seven assists in Saturday's 102-68 victory against BYU on ESPN to bring his career total to 677, which ranks sixth in West Coast Conference history. In addition, Perkins scored a season-high 21 points, with a season-high seven made field goals. Perkins was 7-of-11 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range against the Cougars.
His 199 assists this season rank fourth in program history, and sixth in the nation this season. He is ninth in the country averaging 6.9 assists per game and seventh with a 3.37 assist-to-turnover ratio. The two wins moved the Park Hill, Colo. native into second place in GU history with 128 wins (17 losses), which also ranks in the Top-10 in Div. 1 history.
Thursday's win also clinched the Zags their seventh straight regular season conference title, a feat Perkins has achieved in each of his five seasons with Gonzaga. Monday, Gonzaga moved back atop the AP Top-25 Poll.
Perkins received the conference's weekly honor for the second time this season. It's the sixth time a Zag has been named the WCC Player of the Week in 2018-19.
Also Nominated: James Batemon, LMU; Yoeli Childs, BYU; Frankie Ferrari, San Francisco; Jordan Ford, Saint Mary's; Isaiah Pineiro, San Diego; Colbey Ross, Pepperdine; Josip Vrankic, Santa Clara
2018-19 WCC Men's Basketball Player of the Week
2/25 – Josh Perkins, Gonzaga
2/18 – TJ Haws, BYU
2/11 – Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga
2/4 – Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
1/28 – Colbey Ross, Pepperdine
1/21 – Frankie Ferrari, San Francisco
1/14 – Yoeli Childs, BYU
1/7 – Jade' Smith, Pepperdine
12/31 – Ajare Sanni, Pacific
12/24 – Trey Wertz, Santa Clara
12/17 – Anthony Townes, Pacific
12/10 – Yoeli Childs, BYU
12/3 – Josh Perkins, Gonzaga
11/26 – Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
11/19 – James Batemon, Loyola Marymount
11/12 – Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga
