Chet Holmgren recorded 21 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots to lead second-ranked Gonzaga to a convincing 89-55 victory over Loyola Marymount on Thursday night in West Coast Conference play in Spokane, Wash.
Nolan Hickman scored 11 points as the Bulldogs (16-2, 5-0 WCC) defeated the Lions for the 25th consecutive time. Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther added 10 points apiece as Gonzaga stretched the nation’s longest active home-court winning streak to 63 games.
Keli Leaupepe had 12 points and eight rebounds for Loyola Marymount (9-9, 2-4), which shot just 32.8 percent and was 6 of 22 from 3-point range.
The Lions have dropped 32 straight games in Spokane, last winning 91-79 on Feb. 7, 1991. That victory came in the season following the school’s memorable NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance.
On Thursday, Holmgren was 7 of 8 from the field and made all three of his 3-point attempts while topping 20 points for the second straight game.
Gonzaga shot 61.8 percent, including 12 of 23 from 3-point range, while improving to 46-3 against Loyola Marymount during Mark Few’s 23 seasons as coach.
The Lions played with the Bulldogs over the first 11:45 of the contest and trailed just 20-17.
But Gonzaga rattled off the next 15 points, and Anton Watson’s dunk made it 35-17 with 2:35 left in the half.
Gonzaga led 36-19 at the break. The Bulldogs shot 56 percent (14 of 25) in the half while Loyola Marymount made just 24.2 percent (8 of 33).
The Lions were within 38-26 after Leaupepe’s putback with 16:43 left, but Holmgren followed with a dunk and a 3-pointer to restore the 17-point advantage.
The lead went over 20 for the first time when Holmgren drained a trey to make it 53-31 with 13:18 left.
Watson’s layup pushed the lead above 30, at 68-37, with 8:52 left. Holmgren followed with a three-point play 40 seconds later as part of a 14-0 burst that increased the margin to 37 with seven minutes left.
Gonzaga’s lead topped out at 39 points.
–Field Level Media
