Timme, No. 10 Gonzaga blow out Chicago St in postseason tune-up

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Drew Timme scored 17 points in what’s expected to be his final home game at Gonzaga, and the 10th-ranked Bulldogs trounced Chicago State 104-65 in a postseason tune-up Wednesday night.

Gonzaga 104, Chicago State 65: Box score

Timme was greeted perhaps one last time by the Kennel crowd as he made his 99th start at Gonzaga. The senior forward ranks second on the school’s career scoring list, 21 points behind Frank Burgess (1958-61).

The 6-foot-10 Timme has played four seasons at Gonzaga but could return for a fifth because of extra eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He has not announced any definitive plans.

Look at this guy @drewtimme2 pic.twitter.com/5oRmIJGsDY

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) March 2, 2023

Fellow senior Rasir Bolton added 15 points for the Zags (26-5), who won their seventh straight game. Malachi Smith scored 14. Jahsean Corbett led Chicago State (11-19) with 22 points and seven rebounds. Wesley Cardet scored 16.

Gonzaga added the game to avoid going more than a week without playing before the West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas. The Zags are the No. 2 seed and will play in the semifinals next Monday, seeking their fourth straight WCC Tournament title.

The game featured six lead changes early, but with 13:10 left in the first half Hunter Sallis threw down a ferocious one-handed slam to spark a 20-2 run for Gonzaga over the next eight minutes.

Chicago State cut the deficit in half with a 15-6 spurt, but Bolton knocked down a deep 3-pointer in the closing seconds and Gonzaga led 42-28 at halftime.

The Cougars couldn’t keep pace in the second half as they were outscored 62-37.

BIG PICTURE

Seven players reached double figures for Gonzaga and nine scored in all as the Bulldogs used an 11-man rotation in preparation for the upcoming WCC Tournament.

Chicago State had won six of seven, earning its most wins in a season since 2013-2014. It was the first matchup with Gonzaga in program history.

UP NEXT

Chicago State plays at Fresno State on Saturday.

The Bulldogs play in the WCC semifinals Monday.

Gonzaga climbs back into top 10 of AP men’s hoops poll