Friday, November 3
Spokane, WA
6 p.m.
Gonzaga University
vs
Lewis-Clark State (Exh.)
MBB Opens Season with Exhibition Versus Lewis-Clark State
11/1/2023 10:29:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Zags and Warriors meet Friday night in Spokane
#11/12 Gonzaga (0-0) vs. Lewis-Clark State (0-0)
FRIDAY, NOV. 3 | 6 P.M. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER | SPOKANE, WA
TELEVISION: KHQ/SWX
OUTSIDE OF REGION: ESPN Plus
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE RADIO | LIVE STATS
THE TIP OFF
- Gonzaga opens its 2023-24 season with an exhibition against Lewis-Clark State College inside the McCarthey Athletic Center Friday at 6 p.m. The Warriors, out of Lewiston, Idaho, are members of the NAIA.
- The Zags are No. 11 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering the year. The Bulldogs' 134 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Houston's 65 consecutive appearances as the next best.
- The Zags have a history of cruising in their home exhibitions. Gonzaga has an average margin of victory of 42 points in its home exhibition wins over the past 15 games.
- In last season's home exhibition, No. 2 GU eased to a 101-70 victory over Warner Pacific. Five Zags finished in double-digit scoring led by Drew Timme's game-high 21 points. Nolan Hickman chipped in 11 points. Gonzaga made 52.7 percent from the field. The Bulldogs outrebounded WPU 53-30, with 20 offensive boards.
- The Zags and LC State met in an exhibition in 2021 in Spokane. GU cruised to a 112-62 win. Drew Timme led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 18 minutes. Gonzaga made 53.9 percent from the field, while holding the Warriors to 34.3 percent. Gonzaga outrebounded Lewis-Clark State 57-28.
- In 2016-17, GU opened its season with a 122-76 victory over West Georgia. The Zags' 122 points were the most points scored by Gonzaga in any game since a 123-72 exhibition victory over Northwest Sports in 2003.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
- Lewis-Clark State is an NAIA program from Lewiston, Idaho. They are members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, which includes teams from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
- The Knights were 14-15 last season, including 11-11 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
- LC State has had 16 20-win seasons since 2000-01, including 10 straight from 2012-13 to 2021-22.
- After advancing to the NAIA national semifinals in 2019 (30-7), the Warriors were the NAIA national runner-up in 2021 with a 22-2 record.
- Three seasons removed from a NAIA National Championship game appearance, only one player (Sam Stockton) from that roster remains. Sixth-year coach Austin Johnson brings in eight new faces in 2023-24.
- The Warriors were picked to finish in a tie for third place in the conference
- Davian Brown, LC State's leading scorer with 14.8 point per game last year, returns in his senior season.
- Last season's CCC Freshman of the Year John Lustig was second on the team with 12.8 points per game.
- Lewis-Clark State opened the season with a 110-70 exhibition loss at No. 10 Arizona on Oct. 20. McCarhy Morris and Brown led the Warriors with 11 points each, both with three 3-pointers. Morris grabbed a team-best five rebounds. The Warriors led 29-28 at the 6:49 mark of the first half.
UP NEXT
- Gonzaga opens the 2023-24 regular season at home against Yale on Nov. 10.
- It's the second-ever meeting between the programs. The Zags beat Yale, 70-59, in Shootout Spokane on Dec. 28, 1991.
- Yale has won Ivy League regular season championships in three of the last four seasons, including last season, and has four NCAA Tournament berths since 2016.
- Yale welcomes back the reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in Bez Mbeng and unanimous First Team Ivy League selection Matt Knowling.
- The Zags have won 17 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 year's season-opener, No. 2 Gonzaga beat North Florida in Spokane, 104-63.
- GU has won 32 consecutive regular season home-openers since a 73-65 loss to Boise State on Dec. 7, 1988.
- Gonzaga has won all 17 regular season home-openers in the McCarthey Athletic Center and all 22 regular season home-openers under Mark Few.
- For the fifth time, Gonzaga and Nike N7 are partnering in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. During the game against Yale, the Zags will wear customized turquoise uniforms created by Nike. The turquoise color is symbolic of friendship and fellowship in Native American cultures.
BULLDOG TRIO ON NAISMITH FIVE
- Gonzaga had three players named to preseason watch lists for the Naismith Starting Five awards.
- Ryan Nembhard was named to the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award Watch List
- Anton Watson was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward Award Watch List.
- Graham Ike was named to the Karl Malone Power Forward Award Watch List.
- Gonzaga (3) is one of 12 schools with three or more players on a watch list. Creighton, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, and UConn all have four players.
ZAGS OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 11 IN AP POLL
- Gonzaga was ranked No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press poll.
- This marks the 23rd straight season GU has been ranked in the AP poll. It's the 14th consecutive year the Zags have appeared in the preseason poll, starting in the top-20 for the 11th straight season.
- GU is one of five programs that have appeared in each of the last 11 preseason polls, and have an average ranking of 8.64.
- The Bulldogs average ranking in the last five preseason poll is 4.60, which is second-best in the nation.
- Gonzaga and Purdue square off in the opening game of the Maui Invitational on Nov. 20. Tennessee is a potential second game opponent in Maui, and the Vols were No. 9 in the preseason AP poll. Defending national champion UConn was sixth in the preseason poll with two first-place votes. The Huskies and Zags meet in Seattle on Dec. 15. The Zags visit No. 16 Kentucky on Feb. 10, and welcome No. 17 San Diego State Dec. 29. Southern California and GU faceoff in Las Vegas Dec. 2. The Trojans are No. 21 in the preseason poll. West Coast Conference foe Saint Mary's is No. 23. The Gaels and Bulldogs are scheduled to meet on Feb. 3 in Spokane and March 2 in Moraga, Calif.
NUMBER TWO IN COACHES POLL
- Gonzaga was ranked No. 12 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports/Coaches poll.
- Gonzaga opens in the top-20 of the poll for the 11th straight year. GU appears in the coaches' preseason poll for the 14th straight season.
- Kansas was No. 1 in the preseason poll, collecting 23 of the 32 first-place votes. Purdue received five first-place votes and was No. 2. Duke, Michigan State, UConn round out the Top 5.
STEADY IN THE POLLS
- The Zags' 134 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Houston second at 65.
- The Bulldogs' 134 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 is 12th all-time in the poll's history.
- The Zags have finished in the Top-10 in each of the last seven final AP polls. The only program in the nation to accomplish that feat.
- Since 2017, Gonzaga has been in the Top-10 in the AP poll a national best 134 times. Kansas is second at 133.
- Since 2017, Gonzaga has been in the Top-5 in the AP poll a national best 80 times. Kansas is second at 76.
- GU is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 6 average ranking.
THE SLATE
- The Zags will face a guaranteed five teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll during non-conference play, which ties the most among Top 25 ranked teams.
- During their non-conference schedule, the Zags face a potential of six teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, and another that played in the postseason. The Bulldogs face both teams that played in the 2023 national championship game.
- Seven non-conference opponents won 20 or more games in 2022-23 and finished inside the Top 125 in last year's NET rankings.
- Gonzaga plays teams from nine different conferences, including the Big Ten, Big East, Pac-12, SEC and potentially the ACC and Big 12.
ANOTHER HIGH KENPOM RANKING
- Gonzaga came in at No. 5 overall and No. 1 in the metrics' offensive efficiency scale in KenPom's preseason metric rankings.
- Purdue sits atop the ratings, with Kansas, Houston and UConn ahead of the Zags. Arizona, Baylor, Tennessee, Duke and Alabama round out the top 10.
- On top of having the No. 1 offense, the Zags are No. 26 in adjusted defensive efficiency. GU's defense ranked 73rd last season.
- Referred to as KenPom, the advanced analytics website ranks all 363 Division-I men's college basketball teams based on numerous factors. It considers aspects such as a team's offensive and defensive efficiencies, tempo, luck and strength of schedule.
ZAGS ENJOY PACKED KRAZINESS
- A standing room only crowd of over 6,000 were entertained by Gonzaga at the annual Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel on Oct. 7.
- The event, which started in 2001, gives fans their first look of the season at the GU squad.
- In the Navy and White scrimmage, the White squad made 51.4 percent from the field and won 52-38. Braden Huff's 19 points in the scrimmage were the most since 2009. The redshirt freshman led the Navy team finishing 7-of-13 from the field. Anton Watson scored 13 points to lead the Navy team. Luka Krajnović had 11 points in his McCarthey Athletic Center debut, while Nolan Hickman chipped in 10 points. Watson, Jun Seok Yeo, and Ben Gregg all grabbed a scrimmage-high six rebounds. Ryan Nembhard led all players with four assists. Colby Brooks made two steals.
- In a highly contested Three Point Contest, Hickman held off Huff for the title. Hickman won the three-point crown as a freshman in 2021.
- Krajnović won the Skills Challenge, defeating fellow freshman Dusty Stromer in the finals.
BULLDOGS PICKED SECOND IN WCC
- The Zags were slated second in the league's preseason poll behind Saint Mary's. GU received 60 points in the poll, with four first place votes, while the Gaels grabbed five first place votes and 61 points. San Francisco was tabbed third with 45 points.
- The conference's preseason poll and team were selected by the league's 10 coaches. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own program.
- Except for this season and 2017-18, the Zags have been first place in every West Coast Conference preseason poll since 2001. Gonzaga won the 2017-18 regular season title outright.
TRIO TABBED PRESEASON ALL-WCC
- Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, and Anton Watson were named to the West Coast Conference Preseason Team.
- Watson was tabbed Honorable Mention All-WCC last season. The Spokane native was second in the WCC shooting 60.8 percent from the field, while also topping the league in conference play at 64.8 percent. He started all 37 games in 2022-23, averaging a career-best 11.1 points per game, and 12.9 points per WCC contest.
- Nembhard started 64 games the past two seasons for Creighton, averaging 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists this past season
- During the 2021-22 season, Ike averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as Wyoming went 25-9 and made the NCAA Tournament.
FRIDAY, NOV. 3 | 6 P.M. | McCARTHEY ATHLETIC CENTER | SPOKANE, WA
TELEVISION: KHQ/SWX
OUTSIDE OF REGION: ESPN Plus
LIVE VIDEO | LIVE RADIO | LIVE STATS
THE TIP OFF
- Gonzaga opens its 2023-24 season with an exhibition against Lewis-Clark State College inside the McCarthey Athletic Center Friday at 6 p.m. The Warriors, out of Lewiston, Idaho, are members of the NAIA.
- The Zags are No. 11 in the Associated Press preseason poll entering the year. The Bulldogs' 134 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Houston's 65 consecutive appearances as the next best.
- The Zags have a history of cruising in their home exhibitions. Gonzaga has an average margin of victory of 42 points in its home exhibition wins over the past 15 games.
- In last season's home exhibition, No. 2 GU eased to a 101-70 victory over Warner Pacific. Five Zags finished in double-digit scoring led by Drew Timme's game-high 21 points. Nolan Hickman chipped in 11 points. Gonzaga made 52.7 percent from the field. The Bulldogs outrebounded WPU 53-30, with 20 offensive boards.
- The Zags and LC State met in an exhibition in 2021 in Spokane. GU cruised to a 112-62 win. Drew Timme led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds in 18 minutes. Gonzaga made 53.9 percent from the field, while holding the Warriors to 34.3 percent. Gonzaga outrebounded Lewis-Clark State 57-28.
- In 2016-17, GU opened its season with a 122-76 victory over West Georgia. The Zags' 122 points were the most points scored by Gonzaga in any game since a 123-72 exhibition victory over Northwest Sports in 2003.
SCOUTING THE WARRIORS
- Lewis-Clark State is an NAIA program from Lewiston, Idaho. They are members of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, which includes teams from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
- The Knights were 14-15 last season, including 11-11 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
- LC State has had 16 20-win seasons since 2000-01, including 10 straight from 2012-13 to 2021-22.
- After advancing to the NAIA national semifinals in 2019 (30-7), the Warriors were the NAIA national runner-up in 2021 with a 22-2 record.
- Three seasons removed from a NAIA National Championship game appearance, only one player (Sam Stockton) from that roster remains. Sixth-year coach Austin Johnson brings in eight new faces in 2023-24.
- The Warriors were picked to finish in a tie for third place in the conference
- Davian Brown, LC State's leading scorer with 14.8 point per game last year, returns in his senior season.
- Last season's CCC Freshman of the Year John Lustig was second on the team with 12.8 points per game.
- Lewis-Clark State opened the season with a 110-70 exhibition loss at No. 10 Arizona on Oct. 20. McCarhy Morris and Brown led the Warriors with 11 points each, both with three 3-pointers. Morris grabbed a team-best five rebounds. The Warriors led 29-28 at the 6:49 mark of the first half.
UP NEXT
- Gonzaga opens the 2023-24 regular season at home against Yale on Nov. 10.
- It's the second-ever meeting between the programs. The Zags beat Yale, 70-59, in Shootout Spokane on Dec. 28, 1991.
- Yale has won Ivy League regular season championships in three of the last four seasons, including last season, and has four NCAA Tournament berths since 2016.
- Yale welcomes back the reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in Bez Mbeng and unanimous First Team Ivy League selection Matt Knowling.
- The Zags have won 17 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 year's season-opener, No. 2 Gonzaga beat North Florida in Spokane, 104-63.
- GU has won 32 consecutive regular season home-openers since a 73-65 loss to Boise State on Dec. 7, 1988.
- Gonzaga has won all 17 regular season home-openers in the McCarthey Athletic Center and all 22 regular season home-openers under Mark Few.
- For the fifth time, Gonzaga and Nike N7 are partnering in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. During the game against Yale, the Zags will wear customized turquoise uniforms created by Nike. The turquoise color is symbolic of friendship and fellowship in Native American cultures.
BULLDOG TRIO ON NAISMITH FIVE
- Gonzaga had three players named to preseason watch lists for the Naismith Starting Five awards.
- Ryan Nembhard was named to the Bob Cousy Point Guard Award Watch List
- Anton Watson was named to the Julius Erving Small Forward Award Watch List.
- Graham Ike was named to the Karl Malone Power Forward Award Watch List.
- Gonzaga (3) is one of 12 schools with three or more players on a watch list. Creighton, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Marquette, and UConn all have four players.
ZAGS OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 11 IN AP POLL
- Gonzaga was ranked No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press poll.
- This marks the 23rd straight season GU has been ranked in the AP poll. It's the 14th consecutive year the Zags have appeared in the preseason poll, starting in the top-20 for the 11th straight season.
- GU is one of five programs that have appeared in each of the last 11 preseason polls, and have an average ranking of 8.64.
- The Bulldogs average ranking in the last five preseason poll is 4.60, which is second-best in the nation.
- Gonzaga and Purdue square off in the opening game of the Maui Invitational on Nov. 20. Tennessee is a potential second game opponent in Maui, and the Vols were No. 9 in the preseason AP poll. Defending national champion UConn was sixth in the preseason poll with two first-place votes. The Huskies and Zags meet in Seattle on Dec. 15. The Zags visit No. 16 Kentucky on Feb. 10, and welcome No. 17 San Diego State Dec. 29. Southern California and GU faceoff in Las Vegas Dec. 2. The Trojans are No. 21 in the preseason poll. West Coast Conference foe Saint Mary's is No. 23. The Gaels and Bulldogs are scheduled to meet on Feb. 3 in Spokane and March 2 in Moraga, Calif.
NUMBER TWO IN COACHES POLL
- Gonzaga was ranked No. 12 in the preseason USA TODAY Sports/Coaches poll.
- Gonzaga opens in the top-20 of the poll for the 11th straight year. GU appears in the coaches' preseason poll for the 14th straight season.
- Kansas was No. 1 in the preseason poll, collecting 23 of the 32 first-place votes. Purdue received five first-place votes and was No. 2. Duke, Michigan State, UConn round out the Top 5.
STEADY IN THE POLLS
- The Zags' 134 straight AP Poll appearances top the nation, with Houston second at 65.
- The Bulldogs' 134 consecutive appearances in the Top 25 is 12th all-time in the poll's history.
- The Zags have finished in the Top-10 in each of the last seven final AP polls. The only program in the nation to accomplish that feat.
- Since 2017, Gonzaga has been in the Top-10 in the AP poll a national best 134 times. Kansas is second at 133.
- Since 2017, Gonzaga has been in the Top-5 in the AP poll a national best 80 times. Kansas is second at 76.
- GU is the only program in the country to appear in every AP poll since 2017, with a No. 6 average ranking.
THE SLATE
- The Zags will face a guaranteed five teams ranked in the AP Top 25 poll during non-conference play, which ties the most among Top 25 ranked teams.
- During their non-conference schedule, the Zags face a potential of six teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, and another that played in the postseason. The Bulldogs face both teams that played in the 2023 national championship game.
- Seven non-conference opponents won 20 or more games in 2022-23 and finished inside the Top 125 in last year's NET rankings.
- Gonzaga plays teams from nine different conferences, including the Big Ten, Big East, Pac-12, SEC and potentially the ACC and Big 12.
ANOTHER HIGH KENPOM RANKING
- Gonzaga came in at No. 5 overall and No. 1 in the metrics' offensive efficiency scale in KenPom's preseason metric rankings.
- Purdue sits atop the ratings, with Kansas, Houston and UConn ahead of the Zags. Arizona, Baylor, Tennessee, Duke and Alabama round out the top 10.
- On top of having the No. 1 offense, the Zags are No. 26 in adjusted defensive efficiency. GU's defense ranked 73rd last season.
- Referred to as KenPom, the advanced analytics website ranks all 363 Division-I men's college basketball teams based on numerous factors. It considers aspects such as a team's offensive and defensive efficiencies, tempo, luck and strength of schedule.
ZAGS ENJOY PACKED KRAZINESS
- A standing room only crowd of over 6,000 were entertained by Gonzaga at the annual Numerica Kraziness in the Kennel on Oct. 7.
- The event, which started in 2001, gives fans their first look of the season at the GU squad.
- In the Navy and White scrimmage, the White squad made 51.4 percent from the field and won 52-38. Braden Huff's 19 points in the scrimmage were the most since 2009. The redshirt freshman led the Navy team finishing 7-of-13 from the field. Anton Watson scored 13 points to lead the Navy team. Luka Krajnović had 11 points in his McCarthey Athletic Center debut, while Nolan Hickman chipped in 10 points. Watson, Jun Seok Yeo, and Ben Gregg all grabbed a scrimmage-high six rebounds. Ryan Nembhard led all players with four assists. Colby Brooks made two steals.
- In a highly contested Three Point Contest, Hickman held off Huff for the title. Hickman won the three-point crown as a freshman in 2021.
- Krajnović won the Skills Challenge, defeating fellow freshman Dusty Stromer in the finals.
BULLDOGS PICKED SECOND IN WCC
- The Zags were slated second in the league's preseason poll behind Saint Mary's. GU received 60 points in the poll, with four first place votes, while the Gaels grabbed five first place votes and 61 points. San Francisco was tabbed third with 45 points.
- The conference's preseason poll and team were selected by the league's 10 coaches. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own program.
- Except for this season and 2017-18, the Zags have been first place in every West Coast Conference preseason poll since 2001. Gonzaga won the 2017-18 regular season title outright.
TRIO TABBED PRESEASON ALL-WCC
- Graham Ike, Ryan Nembhard, and Anton Watson were named to the West Coast Conference Preseason Team.
- Watson was tabbed Honorable Mention All-WCC last season. The Spokane native was second in the WCC shooting 60.8 percent from the field, while also topping the league in conference play at 64.8 percent. He started all 37 games in 2022-23, averaging a career-best 11.1 points per game, and 12.9 points per WCC contest.
- Nembhard started 64 games the past two seasons for Creighton, averaging 12.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists this past season
- During the 2021-22 season, Ike averaged 19.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game as Wyoming went 25-9 and made the NCAA Tournament.
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