Strawther scores 18 as No. 1 Gonzaga tops Alcorn State 84-57

Nov 15, 2021, 8:41 PM | Updated: 8:45 pm

Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis (10) shoots over Alcorn State forward Ladarius Marshall during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard, left, shoots in front of Alcorn State guard Paul King during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Alcorn State guard Dominic Brewton (15) and Gonzaga forward Anton Watson, right, go after a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Alcorn State guard Paul King, right, shoots over Gonzaga guard Matthew Lang during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga guard Rasir Bolton, left, shoots next to Alcorn State center Lenell Henry during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren grabs a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alcorn State, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga guard Nolan Hickman, front, shoots while pressured by Alcorn State guard Oddyst Walker during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

CORRECTS TO ALCORN STATE FORWARD DARRIOUS AGNEW NOT GUARD DEVIN CARTER - Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, right, controls the ball while pressured by Alcorn State forward Darrious Agnew during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)Alcorn State forward Darrious Agnew

Alcorn State forward Darrious Agnew, left, grabs a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Alcorn State guard Justin Thomas, second from the left, passes the ball while pressured by Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis, left, and forwards Kaden Perry, right, and Ben Gregg during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Alcorn State guard Justin Thomas, left, shoots over Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren dunks during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Alcorn State, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Alcorn State guard Keondre Montgomery, center, shoots between Gonzaga forwards Drew Timme, left, and Ben Gregg during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga guard Julian Strawther, right, shoots next to forward Drew Timme during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Alcorn State, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga center Chet Holmgren, left, blocks a shot by Alcorn State forward Ladarius Marshall during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga guard Rasir Bolton, top, and Alcorn State guard Byron Joshua scramble for the ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Alcorn State coach Landon Bussie reacts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few shouts to his players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Alcorn State, Monday, Nov. 15, 2021, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Julian Strawther scored 18 points for top-ranked Gonzaga in a dominating 84-57 win over Alcorn State on Monday night, extending the nation’s longest home-winning streak to 54 games.

Gonzaga 84, Alcorn State 57: Box score

Freshman Hunter Sallis added 16 points for Gonzaga (3-0), which was coming off a decisive win over then-No. 5 Texas on Saturday.

Chet Holmgren had 11 points and Drew Timme 10 for the Zags, who shot 59% to Alcorn State’s 40%. Gonzaga scored 54 points in the paint.

Nice way to start the second half @drewtimme2 to @JulianStrawther pic.twitter.com/lWA1kNyTVm

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) November 16, 2021

Keondre Montgomery scored 13 points for Alcorn State (0-4), which was no match for the taller Bulldogs. Justin Thomas added 10.

Gonzaga has been ranked No. 1 for 19 consecutive weeks, the fifth-longest streak in AP rankings history.

Gonzaga made 10 of its first 13 shots as the Zags built a 27-8 lead in the first 10 minutes. They led 45-21 at halftime, shooting 64% in the first half while holding Alcorn State to 30%.

Strawther had 15 points in the first half, while Holmgren had 11 points and three blocked shots.

The Zags substituted liberally in the second half, and still pulled away.

BIG PICTURE

Alcorn State: The Braves had no answer for Gonzaga’s size and speed. … They also lost at Washington State, Seattle and Portland in the past seven days during a trip to open the season. … Gonzaga beat them in the only other meeting in 1992.

Gonzaga: It wasn’t quite as electric in The Kennel as it was for the Texas game last weekend, but the Zags took care of business against an overmatched foe. … Drew Timme’s 37 points against Texas were third all-time in the McCarthey Athletic Center, behind Adam Morrison (42) and Ronny Turiaf (40). … The Zags have won at least 30 games for five straight seasons and led the nation in scoring the past three seasons.

UP NEXT

Alcorn State: Visits Southern Illinois on Nov. 26.

Gonzaga: Hosts Bellarmine on Friday, then plays neutral-site games next week against No. 2 UCLA and No. 7 Duke.

Saturday: No. 1 Zags beats No. 5 Texas with Few back at helm

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