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In a hard-fought battle on Saturday, the Gonzaga Bulldogs suffered an 81-80 defeat to the LSU Tigers when Donovan Dent nailed a three-pointer with just 1.5 seconds remaining. The loss dropped Gonzaga to 2-1 on the season.
Veteran big man Braden Huff led the Zags with 18 points and 13 rebounds, but his efforts weren't enough to overcome a rough shooting night for the team. Gonzaga connected on only 44.6% of its field-goal attempts (33-of-74) and made just 9 of 14 free throws, including a critical miss by Davis Fogle that set up Dent's heroics.
Point Guard Duel Turns One-Sided
The anticipated matchup between fifth-year point guards Donovan Dent and Xaivian Lee never fully materialized due to early foul trouble for Lee. Dent took full advantage, pouring in 16 points with four assists and three steals in the first half alone. Though quieter after halftime, he finished with 23 points, including the decisive shot. Lee, who picked up two fouls in the first two minutes and a third shortly after returning, still contributed a key three-pointer late in the second half that gave Gonzaga a ten-point lead, but the advantage slipped away amid defensive lapses down the stretch.
Outside Shooting Proves Costly
Three-point shooting was a major differentiator. Gonzaga didn't hit a triple until Chauncey Wiggins connected from the corner early in the second half. The Zags then found some rhythm with Isiah Harwell hitting two and Fogle knocking down a corner three as the shot clock expired, helping them extend their lead. However, LSU was efficient from beyond the arc after halftime, shooting 8-of-14, including Dent's game-winner. Skyy Clark, who had started the season 1-of-11 from deep, made 3-of-8, while Abdi Bashir (5-of-8) hit three clutch triples to keep LSU within striking distance.
Huff's All-Around Effort
While Gonzaga wasn't its usual efficient self around the rim, Braden Huff still managed to lead the team in scoring with 18 points on 8-of-16 shooting. Perhaps more importantly, he dominated the glass against a physical LSU frontcourt, pulling down 13 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. His relentless work was a primary reason Gonzaga led for most of the contest.
Gonzaga has little time to regroup, as the Bulldogs host the Montana State Bobcats on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM PT, with the game airing on the CBS Sports Network.