Gonzaga Basketball: Zags dominate home opener against New Mexico State
Davis Fogle and Isiah Harwell each scored 22 points as the 15th-ranked team defeated the Aggies 109-68 in Spokane.
By Justin Barnes ·
No. 15 Gonzaga defeated New Mexico State 109-68 on Saturday in Spokane, Washington, improving its record to 2-0. Davis Fogle and Isiah Harwell led the scoring with 22 points each, while Braden Huff contributed 20 points for the Bulldogs.
The team shot 61% from the floor, a mark that helped secure the 41-point victory. Javon Bennett added 13 points for Gonzaga in what was the program's home opener. This marks the 17th consecutive season the Zags have started the year inside the AP Top 25.
New Mexico State, now 1-1, dropped its all-time record against Gonzaga to 0-2. Mark Lavrenov scored 19 points for the Aggies, and DJ Dudley added 10. The visitors shot 44% from the field but struggled with ball security late in the game.
The margin of victory fluctuated early in the contest. New Mexico State trailed by only one point at 24-23 with nine minutes remaining in the first half. Gonzaga responded with a 13-4 run, highlighted by a Fogle dunk, to take a 37-27 lead. The Aggies closed the half within striking distance, trailing 47-42.
Gonzaga opened the second half with a 57-44 lead. With 12 minutes left, a basket by Huff extended the advantage to 70-57. The Zags capitalized on four consecutive turnovers by the Aggies to push the lead to 83-62 with seven minutes remaining. New Mexico State committed additional turnovers in the final minutes as its offense stalled.
This was Mark Few's first regular-season home game since his induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in August. Gonzaga finished last season with a 31-4 record and went 14-0 at home. The Zags host LSU at Spokane Arena on Saturday, while New Mexico State plays at UTEP on Thursday.
