PULLMAN — Kyle Wiltjer scored 22 points and No. 13 Gonzaga beat stubborn Washington State 69-60 on Wednesday night.
Josh Perkins added 16 points, and Silas Melson had 12 for Gonzaga (5-1), which did not put the game away until the closing minutes.
Que Johnson scored 18 points for Washington State (4-1). Ike Iroegbu added 17.
Washington State took an early lead, but Wiltjer hit four 3-pointers in the span of 4 minutes to key a 19-4 run as Gonzaga took a 21-10 advantage. Wiltjer had 20 points in the opening 10 minutes, on 8-of-11 shooting, to help Gonzaga build a 29-14 lead.
Que Johnson scored five points during a 9-0 run that cut Gonzaga’s lead to 36-30.
Gonzaga led 38-30 at halftime, after holding the Cougars to 37 percent shooting.
Gonzaga opened the second half with an 8-2 run for a 46-32 lead.
Washington State scored six straight points, but the Bulldogs replied with five of their own to maintain a 13-point lead.
The teams traded baskets through the middle portion of the second half, with Gonzaga maintaining a double-digit lead.
Ny Redding had a steal and layup to cut Gonzaga’s lead to 57-48 with eight minutes left.
Iroegbu’s layup cut Gonzaga’s lead to 59-53 with 5:14 left.
Perkins replied with a 3-pointer for Gonzaga, and the Bulldogs held off Washington State the rest of the way.
Neither team shot well in the contest between two high-scoring clubs. Gonzaga shot 49.9 percent and Washington State just 40 percent.
Washington State’s Josh Hawkinson, who came in averaging 18 points and 9.7 rebounds, was held to four points and six rebounds.
Washington State leads the overall series 98-52, but the Zags have dominated since the turn of the century. Despite playing 150 times since 1907, this is the last scheduled meeting between schools 80 miles apart. Washington State wants to continue, but Gonzaga is looking to schedule other opponents.
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