Graham Ike recorded 27 points and nine rebounds and Khalif Battle added a season-high 26 points to lead No. 19 Gonzaga to a 96-68 win over Loyola Marymount on Saturday night in West Coast Conference play at Los Angeles.
Ike made 12 of 16 field-goal attempts and Battle was 10 of 12 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Michael Ajayi added 15 points and Ryan Nembhard had 10 points, 11 assists and six rebounds for the Bulldogs (12-4, 3-0 WCC).
Will Johnston scored 18 points and Jevon Porter added 17 points and eight rebounds for the Lions (9-7, 1-3). LMU has dropped 13 straight home games against the Zags.
Gonzaga has won 33 of the past 35 overall meetings and is 50-4 against Loyola Marymount during Mark Few’s 26 seasons as Bulldogs coach.
The Bulldogs shot 52.8 percent from the field, including 7 of 16 from 3-point range. Battle had three steals to help Gonzaga hold a 17-2 edge in points off turnovers.
Loyola Marymount made 38.2 percent of its attempts and went 8 of 24 from behind the arc. The Lions committed 14 turnovers.
Gonzaga led by 18 at the break and put the game away over the first six minutes of the second half.
Nembhard scored on a layup to make it 59-35 with 15:20 left in the contest. A little over a minute later, Battle buried a 3-pointer as the Bulldogs took a 65-38 advantage.
The Lions were within 69-52 after Porter drilled a 3-pointer with 8:48 left in the contest. Gonzaga responded with a 10-3 push to make it a 24-point margin.
Battle’s three-point play made it 88-60 with 4:07 to play as the Zags closed it out.
Ike scored 14 points, Ajayi added 11 and Battle had 10 as the Bulldogs led 46-28 at the break.
The score was tied 7-7 before Gonzaga scored 18 of the next 24 points to take a 25-13 advantage. Ajayi’s dunk capped the spurt with 8:50 left in the half.
Battle later scored five straight points to ignite a 9-0 burst as the Bulldogs’ lead reached 44-22 with 1:59 remaining.
–Field Level Media
