Tue Nov 13 11:07:51 2007

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Gonzaga and Idaho clash in Spokane

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Spokane, WA (Sports Network) - The 14th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs are always tough to beat at home, and they are heavily favored in tonight's non- conference clash with the Idaho Vandals.

Idaho opened the season against an overmatched Cascade College squad on Friday, and the result was a lopsided 110-52 victory. Obviously, the competition level spikes significantly this evening, and this clash with Gonzaga will be followed by a game against nationally-ranked Washington State.

The Zags began their season on Sunday with a 77-54 romp over Montana, and they are now 40-1 in the McCarthey Athletic Center since it opened in 2004. Gonzaga finished 23-11 last season and figures to run away with the West Coast Conference title once again, seemingly a yearly tradition.

Idaho leads the all-time series with Gonzaga by a 70-62 margin, but the Zags beat the Vandals by a 76-51 final last season.

Considering that Idaho more than doubled the score of its opponent in the opener, it is no surprise that the Vandals produced some astounding individual and team stats. Four of the five starters reached double figures in scoring for the club, led by a 25-point effort from Trevor Morris. Michael Crowell and Darin Nagle posted 17 points apiece, and Brandon Brown posted 11 points. Jordan Brooks finished the tilt with 10 points, nine rebounds and six assists, proof of his versatility. Idaho connected on 66.1 percent of its field goal attempts in the clash, including a 12-of-20 effort from three-point range. Defensively, the club limited Cascade to 30.9 percent shooting efficiency.

Austin Daye is one of the most prized recruits in the history of Gonzaga basketball. Daye proved to be worth all the hype in the opener against Montana, as he scored 20 points and pulled down 10 boards in 27 minutes of action. The Zags got 17 points and five assists from Jeremy Pargo, as well as 13 points from Matt Bouldin. The fourth and final double-digit scorer was Larry Gurganious, as he netted 12 points. Gonzaga shot a stellar 53.7 percent from the floor while limiting Montana to 30.9 percent overall shooting efficiency. The Zags also benefitted from a 40-29 rebounding advantage. Pargo and Bouldin are just a couple of returnees capable of big production. Keep an eye on Micah Downs, as he is a unique talent with major scoring ability. Star forward Josh Heytvelt will miss 4-6 weeks because of surgery, but should be back in time for the heart of the Zags' schedule.