#5/4 Gonzaga (8-2, 0-0 WCC) vs. #25/24 Texas Tech (8-1, 0-0 BIG 12)
SATURDAY, DEC. 18 | 10 A.M. PACIFIC | FOOTPRINT CENTER | PHOENIX
TELEVISION: CBS
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THE TIP OFF
- No. 5/4 Gonzaga faces No. 25/24 Texas Tech in the 2021 Jerry Colangelo Classic in the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Ariz., Saturday at 10 a.m. Pacific Time. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the programs, and the Red Raiders have won all three of the previous matchups, including the latest in the 2019 NCAA Tournament West Regional Final in Anaheim, Calif. Texas Tech pulled away late, 76-69, to earn a trip to the Final Four.
- The Zags appear in the Associated Press poll for the 101st consecutive ranking, the longest current streak in the nation, with Villanova second at 45. Gonzaga is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 5 average ranking. Since 2017, the Bulldogs have been in the Top 5 for a national-best 65 polls (64 percent of the 101 rankings). Kansas is second appearing in 62 polls.
- Gonzaga will have an eight-day break from games following a canceled game against Washington on Dec. 12, due to COVID protocols within the Huskies' program, and exam week at GU.
- The Bulldogs are coming off an 80-55 victory over Merrimack on Dec. 9. Drew Timme led GU with 22 points on 8-for-8 shooting from the field. Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 15 rebounds.
- GU tops the nation in field goal percentage (53.0), is fourth in rebound margin (13.9), fifth in defensive rebounds (31.2), seventh in scoring offense (85.6), eighth scoring margin (21.0), and 10th in assists per game (18.2).
- Chet Holmgren is third in the country with 39 blocks and averaging 3.9 per game and fourth shooting 78.6 percent from inside-the-arc. Drew Timme's 69 free-throw attempts are the ninth-most in the nation.
- The Zags are second in KenPom's rankings in offensive efficiency with the 20th-most efficient defense.
 
SCOUTING THE RED RAIDERS
- Texas Tech has opened the season winning eight of its first nine games, including a 57-52 overtime win over No. 13 Tennessee in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 7.
- The Red Raiders are coming off a 75-62 win over Arkansas State Tuesday in Lubbock. Kevin McCullar led Texas Tech with 21 points, five rebounds and four assists. Adonis Arms added 15 points off the bench.
- Four Red Raiders currently average double-digit scoring led by Terrence Shannon Jr. and McCullar, who both score 14.3 points per game. McCullar adds a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game. Bryson Williams chips in 12.2 points at 57.7 percent shooting from the field. Mylik Wilson has dished out a team-high 26 assists this season.
- The Red Raiders are second in the nation rebound margin (14.6), fifth in scoring margin (22.2) and offensive rebounds per game (15.1).
- Texas Tech was picked fourth in the Big 12 Preseason Poll. Shannon, Jr. was Preseason All-League.
 
ON THIS DAY IN ZAG HISTORY
- Gonzaga is 9-5 on Dec. 18 since joining Div. 1 in 1958-59.
- The Zags have won their last eight games on this date.
- The last game on this date was a 94-81 GU home win over North Carolina in 2019.
- On this date in 2016, the Bulldogs beat Tennessee in Nashville, 86-76.
- Gonzaga also owns wins over Baylor (2010) and Georgia Tech (2004) on this date.
 
MILESTONE WATCH
- Drew Timme is seven points from 1,100 in his career.
- Andrew Nembhard is one rebound from 300 in his career.
- Rasir Bolton is three rebounds from 300 in his career.
- Bolton is eight games shy of 100 in his career.
- Julian Strawther is nine rebounds from 100 in his career.
 
WHAT'S UP NEXT
- Gonzaga returns home to host Northern Arizona Monday. It will be the Zags final game before a seven-day break without games for the holiday break.
- This is the 22nd all-time meeting between Gonzaga and Northern Arizona. The Zags hold a 15-6 advantage in the all-time series.
- Last season, No. 1 GU eased to an 88-58 home victory over the Lumberjacks. Drew Timme scored 14 points and Andrew Nembhard had 10 points and seven assists with no turnovers.
 
JERRY COLANGELO CLASSIC INFO
- Gonzaga faces Texas Tech in Phoenix as part of the third annual Jerry Colangelo Classic. This year's event features five games over two days, including four Saturday.
- The event is organized by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will take place at Footprint Center, the home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns.
- One of the most innovative and influential owners in NBA history, Jerry Colangelo has spent most of his life involved with the game of basketball.
- In 1968, he became the youngest general manager in professional sports with the expansion Phoenix Suns. In only his second season with the new club, Colangelo turned the Suns into a legitimate playoff threat.
- In 1976, Colangelo received his first Sporting News NBA Executive of the Year award for taking the Suns to the NBA Finals.
- Since 2005, Colangelo has served as Managing Director of the USA Basketball Men's Senior National Team program, and he has served as he has served as Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame since 2009.
 
THE ZAGS RETURN TO THE VALLEY OF THE SUN
- Gonzaga has had its share of success in Phoenix, Ariz.
- Casey Calvary's famous tip-in gave GU a 73-72 win over Florida and propelled the Bulldogs to their first-ever Elite Eight in 1999. That Sweet 16 victory happened in the now-named Footprint Center.
- The Zags advanced to the program's first-ever Final Four in Phoenix in 2017. Gonzaga beat South Carolina in the semifinals, before falling to North Carolina in the national championships in the University of Phoenix Stadium.
- The Bulldogs beat No. 25 Texas in the 2006 Hall of Fame Challenge in Phoenix, 87-77.
- GU fell to Arizona in the 2009 Duel in the Desert in Phoenix, 69-64.
 
TIMME TIDBITS
- GU is 20-1 when Drew Timme scores 20 or more points.
- Timme has reached double-digit scoring in 33 straight games, which ranks fourth all-time at Gonzaga. Rui Hachimura is third at 34 games, while Brandon Clarke and Adam Morrison both had 37-game streaks.
- Timme's record in games he's appeared in is 71-5 (.934).
 
QUICK NUGGETS
- In Gonzaga's six home games so far this season (240 minutes), the Zags have trailed for four minutes and 23 seconds. Last season in the 480 minutes of home games, GU trailed for a total of 24 minutes and one second.
- The Bulldogs largest deficit at home this season was three points, 8-5 at the 15:45 mark of the first half versus Bellarmine.
- Since March 2016, Gonzaga is 24-9 vs. ranked opponents. The Zags had a 10-game win streak versus ranked teams (2019-21) before loss to Baylor in NCAA Championship, and has now won 12 of last 15 games.
- The Bulldogs are 81-4 in last 85 games when four players have double-digit scoring.
- Gonzaga has won 120 straight games when leading by 10 or more points at halftime.
- GU's 29-game home win streak versus West Coast Conference foes is tied for the second-longest in program history. (1st- 36 wins 2011-15)
 
POWER IN THE PAINT
- Gonzaga leads the nation shooting 64.5 percent inside-the-arc. The next best percentage is Oklahoma's 60.3.
- Chet Holmgren is fourth in the country making 78.6 percent from inside-the-perimeter. Nolan Hickman is ninth at 76.2 percent. Holmgren and Hickman are first and second in the West Coast Conference, while Drew Timme is fourth at 67.3 percent from two-point range.
- The Bulldogs have outscored their opponent in the paint in 42 of the past 43 games (Iowa on Dec. 19, 2020). GU is 39-3 during this stretch.
- Gonzaga had its 65-game streak of shooting 50 percent or better inside the paint came to an end versus Alabama (21/44, 47 percent).