Gonzaga’s final exhibition tuneup before the real games begin looked a lot more like the team Mark Few wants to put on the floor this season.
The Bulldogs rolled past Lewis-Clark State 91-60 on Wednesday, and the night came with a few encouraging signs. Davis Fogle made his first appearance after missing Saturday’s exhibition against Arkansas with a left leg injury, while Gonzaga also delivered a much cleaner offensive showing after the rough shooting night in Fayetteville.
The most eye-catching part of the box score was the efficiency. Gonzaga hit 56.3% of its shots overall and knocked down nine threes in a performance that felt far more connected from the start.
Xaivian Lee opened the game by burying a triple on the first offensive possession, and Isiah Harwell followed with another less than a minute later. From there, the Zags kept taking advantage when Lewis-Clark State went under screens and continued to find open looks.
The improvement from deep was especially notable after Gonzaga’s 21.4% mark from three against Arkansas. This time, the Bulldogs finished 9-for-27, which works out to 33.3%, and there was more balance in how those shots came.
Almansa went 2-for-2 from long range, Javon Bennett responded from a 0-for-4 outing against Arkansas by hitting 3 of 7, and the overall rhythm looked much closer to what Gonzaga will need once the season starts. Fogle was 0-for-3 and Nathan de Sousa was 0-for-2, but the night still pointed in the right direction for a team that, on paper, should be a better shooting group than it was a year ago.
Almansa was once again at the center of it all. He scored 12 points and did it on perfect 4-for-4 shooting in the first half, including both of his three-point attempts. After turning in a strong showing on Saturday at Arkansas, he has looked like Gonzaga’s best player heading into the regular season, even though he was only cleared as eligible five days ago.
With Massamba Diop dealing with foul trouble and continuing to struggle offensively, Almansa has quickly become a key piece in Few’s rotation. Based on these first two exhibition games, he looks set for major minutes all season.
Parker Jefferson also made his presence felt in a big way. The 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman was especially strong after halftime, when he seemed to be involved in just about everything Gonzaga did. He finished with 12 points on 6-for-9 shooting, mixing in soft finishes around the rim with a transition basket after outrunning everyone down the floor.
Jefferson added six rebounds and two blocks, and his impact went beyond the numbers. He was diving for loose balls, challenging shots, and even showing some passing touch with several sharp deliveries. With Jefferson and Sam Funches battling for frontcourt minutes behind Diop, Huff, and Almansa, Jefferson made a clear case in Gonzaga’s last preseason run.
The Bulldogs now turn to the opener, set for Monday, Nov. 2 in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena against Purdue. Tipoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM PT, and the game will air on TNT.
In Other News...
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Wiggins remains ineligible for Gonzaga at the moment and is expected to miss Mondays game against Purdue. The door is not necessarily closed on his season, though, as he could still look to continue the fight in another jurisdiction if he wants another shot at getting cleared. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga's Frontcourt Picture Just Got More Interesting Before Purdue
Gonzagas exhibition win over Lewis-Clark State offered a useful early look at how the frontcourt might shake out as Purdue approaches, and two names stood out in particular. Massamba Diop and Parker Jefferson both found ways to make an impact in the 91-59 rout, giving Mark Few a little more to sort through as the rotation takes shape.
Diop, who had to navigate early foul trouble, looked more comfortable as the game went on and gave the Bulldogs a glimpse of his upside. Jefferson also made his case with a strong all-around showing, finishing as one of the more productive bigs on the floor and reinforcing why his role in the frontcourt picture could matter once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Gonzaga Women Suddenly Have Expectations This Program Has To Answer
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The roster is drawing attention, too, with Lauren Whittaker earning preseason watchlist mention on the national awards circuit and junior guard Allie Turner coming off an All-West Coast Conference first-team season plus tournament honors. Turner and Whittaker are set to share the floor again, giving Gonzaga a foundation that looks capable of meeting the spotlight, even as the exact ceiling for this group still has to play out once the season starts. [Read more 🡒]