Emery’s 3-pointer lifts BYU over No. 25 Gonzaga 69-68

  • Associated Press
  • Thursday, January 14, 2016 8:20pm
  • SportsSports

SPOKANE — The deep front line that No. 25 Gonzaga was counting on this season was not there on Thursday night, and the Zags suffered a rare home loss, 69-68 to BYU.

Center Przemek Karnowski is out for the season with a back injury. Against BYU, forward Domantas Sabonis was in foul trouble the entire game and limited to five points. Forward Kyle Wiltjer tried to carry the team himself, scoring 35 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as Gonzaga (13-4, 5-1 West Coast Conference) saw a seven-game winning streak snapped.

“Domas got into foul trouble and we had to pull him out,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “He’s a huge part of what we are.”

As a result, BYU outscored Gonzaga in the paint 40-20, and won the rebound battle 41-39.

It was the second straight year that BYU beat Gonzaga in Spokane, dealing the Zags a rare home loss in a West Coast Conference game.

BYU was having a poor game shooting, and trailed Gonzaga for much of the game.

Then the Cougars got hot late, and freshman guard Nick Emery hit a 3-pointer with 1:38 left that provided the winning points. It was his only basket of the game.

Kyle Collinsworth scored 20 points and Chase Fischer added 18 for BYU (13-5, 4-1).

“We just stayed positive and kept fighting,” Collinsworth said.

Picking up a rare victory at Gonzaga last year — it broke the Zags’ 41-game home winning streak — gave them confidence they could do it again, even as BYU spent most of the game shooting in the 30 percent range, according to Collinsworth.

The confidence extended to Emery, he said.

“Nick just stayed in the present,” Collinsworth said. “As soon as he had that ball he just knocked it down.”

BYU missed its first 12 3-point attempts of the game, but made three in the final 8 minutes, including the game-winner.

“Our effort and energy was there the whole game,” Collinsworth said. “We are playing better as the season goes on.”

Wiltjer is the leading scorer in the WCC at 21.5 points per game and has reached 20 points 11 times this season.

But he missed a free throw with 8 seconds left that would have tied the game.

“It was really disappointing,” he said of the loss. “We really couldn’t get stops” late in the game.

Neither team shot well from the field, with BYU hitting 41 percent and Gonzaga just 36.8 percent.

Fischer’s 3-pointer, the first of the game for BYU after 12 misses, brought the Cougars within 56-54 with 8:33 left.

Wiltjer replied with a 3-pointer and a long jumper to keep the Zags ahead.

Collinsworth hit three straight baskets as BYU got within 63-61 with 3:40 left. Fischer completed a three-point play to put the Cougars ahead 64-63.

Kyle Dranginis scored on a long jumper to put Gonzaga up by one, but Fischer scored again to put BYU ahead.

After Eric McClellan hit two free throws for Gonzaga, Emery made his 3-pointer to put BYU ahead 69-67 with 1:32 left.

The BYU defense buckled down and Gonzaga could not get a clean shot. Wiltjer made one of two free throws with 8 seconds left to close the scoring and BYU’s Nate Austin blocked a shot in the final seconds.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.