SPOKANE — Rui Hachimura scored 15 points, Josh Perkins added 14 and No. 14 Gonzaga edged BYU 68-60 Saturday night for its fifth win in a row.
Johnathan Williams had 13 points and 10 rebounds for Gonzaga (21-4, 11-1 West Coast), which had lost to BYU at home each of the previous three seasons.
TJ Haws had 22 points for BYU (18-7, 7-5), which was coming off a road loss at Loyola Marymount.
Although Gonzaga has lost just 15 times in the McCarthey Athletic Center since it opened in 2004, three of those were to BYU in the past three years. Last year’s loss in the final game of the regular season was top-ranked Gonzaga’s first defeat of the season.
Haws’ 3-pointer brought BYU within 57-55, and his next basket tied the score at 59 with 2:39 remaining.
Zach Norvell Jr. sank a 3-pointer and Williams hit a layup for a 64-60 Gonzaga lead with 1:36 remaining.
BYU turned the ball over on its next two possessions and the Zags extended their lead at the free-throw line.
Gonzaga used an 8-0 run midway through the first half to build a 24-17 lead. Gonzaga extended the lead to 36-26 by halftime, after limiting BYU to 41-percent shooting from the floor.
The Bulldogs went cold in the second half, and Haws hit a 3-pointer to bring the Cougars within 39-35.
Two free throws by Elijah Bryant tied the score at 43 with 13 minutes left.
Gonzaga has won at least 20 games for the 21st consecutive season. The Bullogs have six players averaging in double figures and their 87.4 points per game are fifth in the nation.
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