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In their first exhibition matchup of the season, the Gonzaga Bulldogs suffered a 76-72 road loss to the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon. Head coach Mark Few's squad was without star sophomore Davis Fogle, who was held out for precautionary reasons due to a leg issue, and forward Chauncey Wiggins, who remains ineligible as his lawsuit in Georgia is stayed.
The game, featuring two top-15 teams, had the typical sloppy play of an exhibition, with numerous turnovers early. Gonzaga led for most of the first half, extending the advantage to 10 points with four minutes remaining. However, Arkansas closed the half and opened the second with an 18-0 run, seizing the lead for good behind efficient outside shooting and a standout performance from junior returner Billy Richmond III.
Three-Point Shooting Remains a Concern
Last season marked Gonzaga's worst three-point shooting campaign under Mark Few, and Saturday offered little hope for improvement. The Zags missed their first 11 attempts from beyond the arc before Izan Almansa connected from the corner with 4:15 left in the first half. The second half brought little relief, as Gonzaga finished a dismal 6-of-28 from deep.
Fogle, who shot 6-of-7 from three at Kraziness, and Wiggins, who hit 39% on 6.0 attempts per game last year at Florida State, are expected to bolster the perimeter attack this season. Nevertheless, the performance was discouraging, with projected shooters like Luca Foster (0-of-4), Javon Bennett (0-of-4), and Nathan de Sousa (1-of-8) all struggling.
Isiah Harwell Shines
The standout for Gonzaga was sophomore wing Isiah Harwell, a 6'6" transfer from Houston with NBA aspirations. With Fogle sidelined, Harwell led the charge, particularly in a near-perfect first half. He paced the Zags with nine first-half points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 1-of-1 from three, while adding two steals, two rebounds, and an assist without a turnover or foul.
Although he didn't score in the second half, Harwell remained productive, finishing with five rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes. He played solid perimeter defense and was the only Zag to log at least five minutes without a turnover. A former McDonald's All-American who battled injuries last year with the Cougars, Harwell appears poised for a breakout sophomore season—welcome news for Few and Gonzaga.
Backcourt Raises Questions
The point guard position has been a roller coaster for Gonzaga this offseason. Despite multiple departures and eligibility issues, the Zags had three point guards—Xaivian Lee, Javon Bennett, and Nathan de Sousa—suited up and eligible on Saturday. However, the trio struggled with shooting woes, poor decision-making, and foul trouble.
Lee was the most effective when on the floor, though foul issues limited him early in the second half. He hit a couple of key threes late and finished with eight points on 3-of-6 shooting, along with five rebounds and two assists. Bennett and de Sousa played significant minutes, often together, but were ineffective offensively, combining for 3-of-25 from the field and 1-of-12 from three. While there were flashes—de Sousa excels at drawing contact and Bennett pushes the tempo—it was a rough night overall for Gonzaga's new-look backcourt.
The Bulldogs have one more exhibition game on Wednesday, Oct. 28, against Lewis-Clark State before opening the regular season on Monday, Nov. 2, against Purdue in Las Vegas.