Ike's perfect game leads hot-shooting Gonzaga to easy March Madness win over McNeese State
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Graham Ike scored 16 points and Anton Watson added 13 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists to power fifth-seeded Gonzaga over No. 12 seed McNeese State 86-65 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
Ike made all six of his field goals and all four free throws while grabbing 10 rebounds.
“Kudos to my teammates for finding me in the right spots,” Ike said. “Ultimately, we were just locked in on every single possession.”
Ben Gregg had 12 points, Nolan Hickman scored 11 and Dusty Stromer finished with 10 for the hot-shooting Bulldogs (26-7), who spoiled McNeese State’s first March Madness appearance in 22 years.
“They press and trap a lot in the post and we ran a lot of stuff through Anton. Anton is terrific and there’s not a better guy in the country, passing and solving things,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said.
The Bulldogs will face No. 4 seed Kansas in the second round of the Midwest Region.
Gonzaga, which shot 52% from the field and 48% from 3-point range, feels right at home in Salt Lake City, playing here more than any other site over the years and posting a 9-3 record.
Christian Shumate and Shahada Wells each scored 19 points for the Cowboys (30-4).
Watson dunked on a fast break to cap a 16-2 run that lifted Gonzaga to a 44-20 lead with 2:58 to play in the first half. McNeese State couldn't get any closer until the final minutes.
“I’ve never had a triple-double,” Watson said. “They were doubling in the post, so it gave me the freedom to find my shooters. I think in first six minutes, I had six assists because everyone was knocking down shots.”
The Bulldogs’ quick passing led to a bevy of wide-open 3s and they made eight of their first 10 from beyond the arc in the first half to put the Cowboys in their biggest hole of the season.
“It was deflating. We were missing layups and they were hitting 3s,” McNeese State coach Will Wade said. “We ran into a buzzsaw.”
Most McNeese State possessions ended in off-balance jumpers and circus shots. The Cowboys didn’t record their first 3-pointer or assist until Javohn Garcia found DJ Richards Jr. for a long-range shot with 1:24 remaining in the first half.
“They were ready for what we had with our post traps ... so we dug ourselves in a hole in the beginning and we couldn't dig back out,” Wells said.
Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, McNeese State is a public school with 7,626 students and a sparse record of basketball success beyond producing Hall of Famer Joe Dumars.
Wade led LSU back to prominence, including a Sweet Sixteen in 2019, before he was fired in 2022 after a lengthy FBI and NCAA investigation related to recruiting violations.
His Cowboys had the largest scoring margin (18.9) in the country but hadn’t faced a skilled, well-rounded team like the Bulldogs. Gonzaga was McNeese State's first ranked opponent of the season.
The Bulldogs are hitting their stride, winning 10 of their last 11, with the only blemish a conference tournament loss to fellow NCAA Tournament team Saint Mary’s.
WINNING IS A HABIT
Gonzaga and Kansas are the only teams to win at least one game in the last 15 tournaments. The Bulldogs will face either the Jayhawks or Samford to see if they can advance to their ninth straight Sweet Sixteen.
Coach Mark Few has the highest winning percentage of any active coach at .834 and has qualified his team for the NCAA Tournament in all 25 seasons.
WHAT GAME SHOULD WE WATCH?
The Delta Center fans booed vehemently when the overhead screens stopped playing the end of the Kentucky-Oakland game and went back to showing the live action in the arena.
Oakland was leading in the final minute of a nail-biter while Gonzaga held a 75-42 advantage on the court in front of the sellout crowd. The Golden Grizzlies held on to beat the Wildcats.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Antavion Collum vs. Graham Ike (Shahada Wells gains possession) | |||
19:51 | +2 | Shahada Wells makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 2-0 | |
19:34 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 2-3 | |
19:12 | Shahada Wells misses three point jump shot | |||
19:09 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
18:52 | +3 | Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Anton Watson assists) | 2-6 | |
18:21 | Omar Cooper misses two point jump shot | |||
18:19 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
18:12 | Ben Gregg misses two point layup | |||
18:11 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
18:11 | Antavion Collum personal foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul) | |||
18:01 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point cutting layup (Anton Watson assists) | 2-8 | |
17:47 | Antavion Collum misses two point layup | |||
17:45 | Antavion Collum offensive rebound | |||
17:45 | +2 | Antavion Collum makes two point putback layup | 4-8 | |
17:29 | Graham Ike turnover (traveling) | |||
17:07 | DJ Richards Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
17:05 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
16:56 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Anton Watson assists) | 4-11 | |
16:29 | Antavion Collum misses three point jump shot | |||
16:27 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
16:21 | Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot | |||
16:19 | Antavion Collum defensive rebound | |||
16:18 | Ben Gregg personal foul (Antavion Collum draws the foul) | |||
15:54 | +2 | Javohn Garcia makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 6-11 | |
15:54 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Javohn Garcia draws the foul) | |||
15:54 | TV timeout | |||
15:54 | +1 | Javohn Garcia makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-11 | |
15:44 | +3 | Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Anton Watson assists) | 7-14 | |
15:12 | DJ Richards Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
15:10 | Christian Shumate offensive rebound | |||
15:05 | +2 | Christian Shumate makes two point putback layup | 9-14 | |
15:05 | Anton Watson shooting foul (Christian Shumate draws the foul) | |||
15:05 | +1 | Christian Shumate makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 10-14 | |
14:49 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point hook shot (Anton Watson assists) | 10-16 | |
14:35 | +2 | Shahada Wells makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | 12-16 | |
14:16 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
14:14 | Javohn Garcia defensive rebound | |||
13:44 | Shahada Wells misses two point jump shot | |||
13:42 | CJ Felder offensive rebound | |||
13:41 | Nolan Hickman personal foul (CJ Felder draws the foul) | |||
13:37 | Javohn Garcia turnover (bad pass) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
13:33 | +2 | Dusty Stromer makes two point cutting layup (Anton Watson assists) | 12-18 | |
13:08 | Javohn Garcia misses two point jump shot | |||
13:06 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
12:52 | CJ Felder shooting foul (Dusty Stromer draws the foul) | |||
12:52 | Dusty Stromer misses regular free throw 1 of 3 | |||
12:52 | +1 | Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 2 of 3 | 12-19 | |
12:52 | +1 | Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 3 of 3 | 12-20 | |
12:28 | CJ Felder turnover (traveling) | |||
12:14 | CJ Felder blocks Braden Huff's two point layup | |||
12:13 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
11:59 | Dusty Stromer misses two point layup | |||
11:57 | Shahada Wells defensive rebound | |||
11:53 | Shahada Wells misses three point jump shot | |||
11:51 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
11:41 | Anton Watson turnover (bad pass) (CJ Felder steals) | |||
11:36 | Antavion Collum misses two point layup | |||
11:34 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
11:24 | Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Antavion Collum steals) | |||
11:16 | +2 | Mike Saunders Jr. makes two point layup | 14-20 | |
11:16 | Braden Huff shooting foul (Mike Saunders Jr. draws the foul) | |||
11:16 | TV timeout | |||
11:16 | +1 | Mike Saunders Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 15-20 | |
10:54 | Javohn Garcia personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul) | |||
10:47 | Mike Saunders Jr. personal foul (Braden Huff draws the foul) | |||
10:30 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
10:28 | Braden Huff offensive rebound | |||
10:24 | Braden Huff misses two point hook shot | |||
10:22 | Christian Shumate defensive rebound | |||
10:17 | Christian Shumate offensive foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
10:17 | Christian Shumate turnover (offensive foul) | |||
10:01 | +3 | Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Dusty Stromer assists) | 15-23 | |
9:37 | Mike Saunders Jr. misses two point jump shot | |||
9:35 | Antavion Collum offensive rebound | |||
9:34 | Antavion Collum misses two point layup | |||
9:32 | Christian Shumate offensive rebound | |||
9:31 | Ryan Nembhard personal foul (Christian Shumate draws the foul) | |||
9:26 | DJ Richards Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
9:24 | Christian Shumate offensive rebound | |||
9:23 | +2 | Christian Shumate makes two point putback layup | 17-23 | |
8:58 | Anton Watson misses two point layup | |||
8:56 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
8:56 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point tip layup | 17-25 | |
8:28 | Dusty Stromer blocks Javohn Garcia's two point jump shot | |||
8:26 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
8:20 | +3 | Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 17-28 | |
8:19 | Cowboys 30 second timeout | |||
7:59 | Nolan Hickman shooting foul (DJ Richards Jr. draws the foul) | |||
7:59 | TV timeout | |||
7:59 | DJ Richards Jr. misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:59 | +1 | DJ Richards Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-28 | |
7:34 | Christian Shumate shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul) | |||
7:34 | +1 | Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-29 | |
7:34 | +1 | Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-30 | |
7:16 | Antavion Collum misses two point hook shot | |||
7:14 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
6:50 | Antavion Collum personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul) | |||
6:50 | +1 | Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-31 | |
6:50 | +1 | Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 18-32 | |
6:35 | CJ Felder misses two point layup | |||
6:33 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
6:28 | Javohn Garcia blocks Ryan Nembhard's two point layup | |||
6:26 | DJ Richards Jr. defensive rebound | |||
6:21 | Javohn Garcia misses two point layup | |||
6:19 | Dusty Stromer defensive rebound | |||
6:13 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
6:11 | Antavion Collum defensive rebound | |||
6:00 | +2 | Shahada Wells makes two point driving layup | 20-32 | |
5:25 | +3 | Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 20-35 | |
4:54 | Javohn Garcia misses three point jump shot | |||
4:51 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
4:31 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point driving bank jump shot | 20-37 | |
4:14 | Javohn Garcia misses three point jump shot | |||
4:12 | Anton Watson defensive rebound | |||
4:05 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point cutting layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 20-39 | |
4:05 | Javohn Garcia shooting foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul) | |||
4:05 | Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
4:05 | Christian Shumate defensive rebound | |||
3:54 | Shahada Wells misses three point jump shot | |||
3:52 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
3:36 | +3 | Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot (Dusty Stromer assists) | 20-42 | |
3:07 | CJ Felder misses two point layup | |||
3:05 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
2:58 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point driving dunk (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 20-44 | |
2:58 | Cowboys 30 second timeout | |||
2:58 | TV timeout | |||
2:44 | Jump ball. Christian Shumate vs. Ryan Nembhard (Bulldogs gains possession) | |||
2:44 | Christian Shumate turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Nembhard steals) | |||
2:21 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
2:19 | Ben Gregg offensive rebound | |||
2:15 | Ben Gregg misses two point layup | |||
2:13 | Javohn Garcia defensive rebound | |||
2:03 | Shahada Wells misses two point layup | |||
2:01 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
1:40 | Anton Watson turnover (bad pass) | |||
1:23 | +3 | DJ Richards Jr. makes three point stepback jump shot (Javohn Garcia assists) | 23-44 | |
0:56 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point hook shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 23-46 | |
0:45 | Shahada Wells misses two point jump shot | |||
0:43 | Shahada Wells offensive rebound | |||
0:32 | Dusty Stromer personal foul (Javohn Garcia draws the foul) | |||
0:32 | +1 | Shahada Wells makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 24-46 | |
0:32 | +1 | Shahada Wells makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 25-46 | |
0:04 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point cutting dunk (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 25-48 | |
0:01 | DJ Richards Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |