Gonzaga Keeps Boilers at Bay, Gets First-Ever Win Against Purdue to Open Season
For the first time in six games, Gonzaga was on the winning side of a matchup with Purdue, and they largely dictated the game's terms during a season-opening win. How did the Zags finally beat the Boilers?
The No. 15 Gonzaga Bulldogs (1-0) and Purdue Boilermakers (0-1) each underwent an identity shift this offseason. Purdue lost several program mainstays, seeking to play a similar style of basketball with different faces. The Zags introduced multiple backcourt options, added depth and versatility to their frontcourt, and handed the keys to a sophomore who delivered huge moments down the stretch last season.
With the personnel differences, it was the Bulldogs who outlasted the Boilers 78-72 in the regular-season opener, as GU picked up its first-ever win against Purdue in the sixth matchup between the programs. And it was the second-year guard Davis Fogle who drove Gonzaga to victory late in the contest at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Although it wasn’t an uber-efficient game for him, Fogle dropped a career-high 22 points on 6-of-18 shooting with five rebounds and two assists. But his constant downhill attack and rim pressure fueled a ferocious second-half free-throw attack by the Zags, which was enough to keep the Boilers at bay.
“I think we did a good job closing the game out, making our free throws,” Fogle said. “Just us getting to the line definitely slowed the game down for us, and we were able to control our lead.”
All eight Bulldogs who played got to the line, and 30 of their 34 free-throw attempts came after halftime. Getting to the charity stripe was GU’s most reliable offense, as it didn’t convert a field goal for six minutes in the second half.
Fogle made nine of his 10 tries from the line to offset a 1-for-8 second half from the field, taking numerous contested shots inside the arc in an attempt to deliver daggers to Purdue. After missing his first six shots of the half, Fogle clutched up on a broken play, driving through traffic and finally getting a shot to go as he flipped a layup in while falling to the hardwood. Aggressive on the floor, Fogle put together productive offensive runs in each half. And several other Zags had similar notable stretches in the win.
