No. 4 Gonzaga hosts seasoned mid-major in UMass Lowell

Nov.

15Follow along with this thread for updates and highlights throughout the night.

Halftime Gonzaga has a major size advantage, but its backcourt has been the main reason for a 49-27 halftime lead over UMass Lowell at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Ryan Nembhard has been excellent.

The Zags' point guard has nine points, five assists, two steals and no turnovers.

Nolan Hickman leads all scorers with 12 points, shooting 4-for-5 on 3-pointers.

Khalif Battle joins him in double figures with 10 points.

The Zags should get a chance to tinker with their lineups and get some run out of their bench in the second half.

First half 3:27 GU 41, UML 17: Innocenti gets some run in the first half, look for the Zags to use a deep bench tonight as we hit the U4 timeout.

Hickman hits his third 3-pointer, he's 3-for-4 from range.

4:58 GU 37, UML 15: Smooth transition offense gives the Zags a 6-0 run and UML calls a timeout.

The rout is on early.

Battle up to 10 points for the Zags, who have forced nine turnovers and have 22 points in the paint.

Nembhard facilitating with four assists.

He had a great no-look pass to Ajayi for a layup.

8:07 GU 28, UML 12: Nembhard hits a layup with a foul and the play is under further review.

Zags cruising here in the first half.

Battle leads with eight points, Hickman adds six and Huff, Gregg and Ike add four apiece.

12:02 GU 19, UML 7: Zags turn to their bench and expand their lead with three straight baskets from Battle, Huff and Gregg.

UML calls a timeout.

Zags on a 9-0 run, have made 8 of 14 attempts from the field.

15:57 GU 10, UML 2: Great start for the Zags as Battle knocks down a 3-pointer and Nembhard is called for a foul to signal the first media timeout.

Ike Leads with four points, Hickman and Battle add 3-pointers, as GU opens 4 of 7 from the field.

UML can't get much going on offense, just two shot attempts so far and three turnovers.

19:41 GU 2, UML 0: We are underway in the Kennel.

Zags win the tipoff and Battle dishes to Ike for a basket on the opening shot attempt.

Starting 5 Gonzaga: Nembhard, Ajayi, Hickman, Battle, Ike UML: Clark, Covington, Mincey, Brooks, Morris III Pregame Gonzaga's third game in its nonconference schedule figures to be its easiest yet, but even the Zags' mid-major opponents carry a winning pedigree.

The No.

4 Bulldogs (2-0) host the UMass Lowell River Hawks (2-0) at 6 p.m.

tonight at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

The game will be broadcast locally on KHQ and nationally on ESPN+.

Gonzaga is a 26-point favorite according to vegasinsider.com .

UML, which finished second in the America East the past two seasons, are tied for fourth nationally with 10 seniors/fifth-year players.

The River Hawks opened the season with wins over Rivier and Saint Peter's, before making the trip across the country to play the Zags tonight and University of Washington on Sunday.

The Zags romped Baylor in its opener and then were challenged for the entirety of a win over Arizona State.

GU will enjoy a healthy size advantage tonight ahead of a marquee true road game at San Diego State on Monday.

Series history This is the first meeting between the two teams.

Game preview Gonzaga-UMass Lowell key matchup: Versatile wing Quinton Mincey off to fast start Quinton Mincey has gone from last season's America East Conference sixth man of the year to UMass Lowell's main man in the scoring column, at least through two games.

Read more More on the Zags 'Good for our program': UMass Lowell signs up for Gonzaga, UW road trip So what brings UMass Lowell, located about 30 miles outside of Boston, to the Kennel for Friday's date with fourth-ranked Gonzaga? Read more Report: Virginia transfer Jalen Warley sets up visit to Gonzaga, two other programs Tony Bennett's unexpected retirement from Virginia last month opened up a 30-day window for players on the Cavaliers' roster to enter the NCAA transfer portal.

Read more 'We just kind of let him go.' Gonzaga's decision to stick with Braden Huff pays off in big way during ASU win Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley took a moment to pass along a quick message to Gonzaga counterpart Mark Few at the conclusion of Sunday's nonconference matchup at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Read more Gonzaga rises to No.

4 in AP basketball poll after wins over Baylor, Arizona State Gonzaga didn't make the biggest jump in the first regular-season AP college basketball poll, but it's 2-0 start certainly garnered national attention.

The Zags moved up two spots to No.

4 after pummeling No.

8 Baylor 101-63 in the season opener and handling Arizona State 88-80 on Sunday.

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