By: Jenessa Gladstone
Box Score
Spokane, WA- To kick off their preseason play the Simon Fraser University men's basketball took on the Division I 14th ranked Gonzaga University Bulldogs, falling 103-68.
"This game was an unbelieveable experience for our team. Our guards played tough defence and really challenged their perimeter players," said Head Coach
James Blake. "They are just so big and we really struggled on the boards."
Forward
David Gebru (Seattle, WA), who was named a Great Northwest Athletic Conference preseason all-star, led the Clan effort scoring 14 points.
Chaffey Community College transfers
Justin Cole (Los Angeles, CA) and
Sango Niang (Paris, France) also hit double digits, adding 12 and 10 points respectively.
Cole had a strong game on the defensive side as well, leading the team with seven rebounds.
Gonzaga forward Sam Dower Jr. led all players earning 20 points while Gerard Coleman chipped in 16.
Despite being outrebounded overall, the Clan won the offensive boards, grabbing 18 offensive rebounds to the Bulldog's 12.
SFU also minimized turnovers, giving up the ball only nine times while forcing 10 from Gonzaga.
The Bulldogs scored the first basket of the game and did not relinquish the lead.
With 12:38 remaining in the first half, Cole gave SFU their first points of the game with a long-distance three-pointer, making the score 15-3.
Three minuets later, senior guard
Dillon Hamilton (Vancouver, BC) knocked down a shot from three-point range to bring the Clan within nine of the Bulldogs, SFU's smallest deficit of the game.
Gonzaga continued to build their lead and led 52-28 by the half.
Although the Clan continued to fight and challenge the Bulldogs, the team was not able to overcome Gonzaga's power.
Cole added a last second jumper, leaving the final score at 103-68.
"I wanted to play the hardest teams in our preseason schedule and we are. These games will prepare us for an unbelievably tough GNAC schedule," finished Blake.
SFU will continue their Division I exhibition tour taking on the University of Montana Grizzlies on
Saturday at 6:00 p.m. in Missoula, MT.
