SPOKANE, Wash. — In an impressive display of basketball, Braden Huff came off the bench to contribute 25 points as No. 13 Gonzaga rebounded from an earlier defeat, defeating Nicholls 102-72 on Wednesday night.

Graham Ike also played a key role by scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds, while Ryan Nembhard recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. This victory marks Gonzaga’s (8-3) recovery after their recent 77-71 setback against No. 11 UConn at Madison Square Garden.

Leading the way for Nicholls (7-5) was Bryon Ireland, who scored 16 points, including eight during the first half of the game.

The Bulldogs faced challenges initially, especially from beyond the arc, as they struggled to hit a three-pointer for nearly 15 minutes of play. Nevertheless, they found their momentum late in the first half, launching a 22-4 scoring spree in the last seven minutes. Huff ignited the rally with consecutive layups, followed by Ike’s first three-pointer of the evening. Nembhard capped off the half with another three just before the horn, allowing Gonzaga to lead 43-29 at the break.

Key Insights:

Gonzaga: After a month-long hiatus from home and two closely contested losses, the Bulldogs showcased their offensive strength by shooting 64.8% from the field and converting 88.9% of their free throws, securing their first win in December.

Nicholls: The Colonels displayed resilience, managing to keep pace with a nationally recognized team for significant portions of the first half.

Noteworthy Statistic:

After struggling with three-point shooting in recent games, the Bulldogs turned things around against Nicholls, knocking down eight three-pointers at a 47.1% shooting rate, significantly improving from their previous outings where they made only six threes and shot under 38%.

Looking Ahead:

Nicholls will next face Seattle on December 30, while Gonzaga is set to host Bucknell this upcoming Saturday.