LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Josh Heytvelt had 19 points and five rebounds to lead Gonzaga to a 91-68 victory over Loyola Marymount on Saturday in the West Coast Conference opener for both teams.
The Bulldogs (12-4) shot a blistering 65.4 percent from the field and pulled away with an 18-4 finish over the game’s final 4:40.
Heytvelt and the Zags used their superior size and strength to score 52 points in the paint to just 18 from Loyola Marymount. Gonzaga also earned a 29-21 rebounding advantage and had seven blocks to just one for LMU (3-14).
Matt Bouldin had 17 points, eight assists, five steals and four rebounds for Gonzaga. Bouldin, a 6-foot-5 sophomore guard, went to the post where he had a distinct size advantage over the smaller Lions guards.
Austin Daye came off the bench to score 13 points for the Bulldogs and fellow reserve Micah Downs scored 10 as the Gonzaga bench outscored LMU’s, 39-17.
Freshman Orlando Johnson had 13 points while Shawn Deadwiler added 10 points and five assists for the Lions.
Gonzaga weathered a strong start from Loyola Marymount, which took a 23-21 lead midway through the first half. But Gonzaga responded with an 11-0 run over the next four minutes and finished the half with a 23-7 run.
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