YALE

GONZAG

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Braden Huff scores 19 in college debut as No. 11 Gonzaga pulls away for 86-71 win over Yale

AP
Nov 11, 2023

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Braden Huff scored 19 points off the bench in his collegiate debut, helping No. 11 Gonzaga pull away from Yale for an 86-71 win on Friday night.

The redshirt freshman forward sparked a big first-half run by the Zags, who fell behind by 10 points early. Huff made 7 of 10 shots and grabbed nine rebounds.

“(Braden's) done a nice job,” Gonzaga head coach Mark Few said. “I think the redshirt year helped him and he’s got a lot to his game. He can score in the post, he can stretch you out a little bit and tonight he rebounded.”

Ryan Nembhard added 16 points and seven assists for Gonzaga (1-0) in his debut after transferring from Creighton and following in the footsteps of his brother, Andrew, who played for the Zags. Nolan Hickman added 15 points and the frontcourt combo of Anton Watson and Graham Ike scored 11 apiece.

John Poulakidas led Yale (1-1) with 18 points. August Mahoney added 12 points despite shooting 2 of 11 from the field. Bez Mbeng added 10 points.

“He was really good,” Yale head coach James Jones said of Poulakidas. “(Gonzaga) did a pretty good job at trying to get him off the ball, but he had a nice game for us. We needed a couple of other guys to step up and do something.”

Huff checked into the game with the Zags trailing 16-6 and promptly sparked a 10-0 run with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. He scored 10 points in seven minutes in the first half and helped the Zags build a 47-42 lead at the break.

Gonzaga opened the second half on a 23-9 run and built a 16-point lead. Huff had seven points during that stretch.

Gonzaga has won every season opener since 2003 and has won every home opener dating to 1988.

“It took everything we had,” Few said of defeating Yale. “That’s a really good basketball team that we beat there.”

BIG PICTURE

Yale: After splitting its first two games, the projected Ivy League champion will face another WCC opponent in Loyola Marymount early next week.

Gonzaga: The Zags won by 15 points just days after losing expected starter Steele Venters for the season with a torn ACL in his right knee. Freshman Dusty Stromer started in place of Venters and scored eight points in his college debut.

UP NEXT

Yale: At Loyola Marymount on Sunday.

Gonzaga: Hosts NAIA school Eastern Oregon on Tuesday.

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1st Half
YALE
Bulldogs
42
GONZ
Bulldogs
47

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Danny Wolf vs. Graham Ike (Bulldogs gains possession)
19:46	+2	Graham Ike makes two point layup	0-2
19:27	+2	Bez Mbeng makes two point layup (Danny Wolf assists)	2-2
19:13		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
19:11		John Poulakidas defensive rebound
19:06		August Mahoney misses three point jump shot
19:04		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
18:57	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	2-4
18:45	+2	John Poulakidas makes two point jump shot	4-4
18:29		Nolan Hickman misses two point layup
18:27		Bez Mbeng defensive rebound
18:24		Dusty Stromer shooting foul (August Mahoney draws the foul)
18:24	+1	August Mahoney makes regular free throw 1 of 2	5-4
18:24	+1	August Mahoney makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-4
18:14		Ryan Nembhard turnover (John Poulakidas steals)
18:05	+3	Bez Mbeng makes three point jump shot (John Poulakidas assists)	9-4
17:48		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
17:46		Graham Ike offensive rebound
17:46		Danny Wolf shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
17:46	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2	9-5
17:46	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-6
17:29	+2	John Poulakidas makes two point jump shot	11-6
17:18		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
17:16		Nick Townsend defensive rebound
17:00	+2	Matt Knowling makes two point jump shot (August Mahoney assists)	13-6
16:42		Anton Watson turnover (bad pass) (Bez Mbeng steals)
16:31	+2	Matt Knowling makes two point layup (Nick Townsend assists)	15-6
16:31		Graham Ike shooting foul (Matt Knowling draws the foul)
16:31	+1	Matt Knowling makes regular free throw 1 of 1	16-6
16:11		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
16:09		Matt Knowling defensive rebound
16:02		August Mahoney misses three point jump shot
16:00		Bulldogs offensive rebound
15:59		TV timeout
15:42		Matt Knowling misses two point layup
15:40		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
15:34		John Poulakidas personal foul (Nolan Hickman draws the foul)
15:32	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot	16-8
15:16		John Poulakidas misses two point jump shot
15:14		Braden Huff defensive rebound
15:08		Bez Mbeng personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
14:56		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
14:54		Anton Watson offensive rebound
14:51	+3	Braden Huff makes three point jump shot (Anton Watson assists)	16-11
14:26		Danny Wolf misses two point jump shot
14:24		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
14:18		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
14:16		Bulldogs offensive rebound
14:16		Danny Wolf personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
14:16		Anton Watson personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul)
14:16		Jump ball. Anton Watson vs. Danny Wolf (Bulldogs gains possession)
14:16		Anton Watson turnover (lost ball) (Danny Wolf steals)
13:56		Bez Mbeng misses three point jump shot
13:54		Nick Townsend offensive rebound
13:50		Jump ball. Nick Townsend vs. Anton Watson (Bulldogs gains possession)
13:50		Nick Townsend turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals)
13:40	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	16-13
13:18		Casey Simmons misses two point layup
13:17		Bulldogs defensive rebound
13:05		Braden Huff misses three point jump shot
13:03		Dusty Stromer offensive rebound
12:59	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	16-16
12:37		Braden Huff shooting foul (August Mahoney draws the foul)
12:37	+1	August Mahoney makes regular free throw 1 of 2	17-16
12:37	+1	August Mahoney makes regular free throw 2 of 2	18-16
12:27	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	18-18
12:06		Matt Knowling misses three point jump shot
12:04		Samson Aletan offensive rebound
11:58	+3	Yassine Gharram makes three point jump shot (Samson Aletan assists)	21-18
11:42		Jump ball. Nolan Hickman vs. Casey Simmons (Bulldogs gains possession)
11:42		Nolan Hickman turnover (lost ball) (Casey Simmons steals)
11:42		TV timeout
11:26		August Mahoney misses three point jump shot
11:24		Ben Gregg defensive rebound
11:12		Samson Aletan personal foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
11:06	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point jump shot	21-20
10:38		Samson Aletan misses two point layup
10:36		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
10:36		Yassine Gharram personal foul (Nolan Hickman draws the foul)
10:20	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot	21-22
10:06		Nick Townsend turnover (bad pass) (Ben Gregg steals)
10:00		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
9:58		Bulldogs defensive rebound
9:38		Matt Knowling misses two point hook shot
9:36		Bulldogs defensive rebound
9:14		Graham Ike misses two point jump shot
9:12		Matt Knowling defensive rebound
9:06		Nolan Hickman personal foul (Bez Mbeng draws the foul)
8:56		Dusty Stromer personal foul (August Mahoney draws the foul)
8:48	+2	Nick Townsend makes two point jump shot (Yassine Gharram assists)	23-22
8:37		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
8:35		Bez Mbeng defensive rebound
8:07		August Mahoney misses two point jump shot
8:05		Graham Ike defensive rebound
7:58	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	23-24
7:34		Nick Townsend turnover (bad pass) (Graham Ike steals)
7:24		Jun Seok Yeo misses two point jump shot
7:22		Matt Knowling defensive rebound
7:01		Nick Townsend turnover (lost ball) (Graham Ike steals)
6:49		Jun Seok Yeo misses two point jump shot
6:47		Bulldogs defensive rebound
6:46		TV timeout
6:26		Ryan Nembhard personal foul (Nick Townsend draws the foul)
6:26	+1	Nick Townsend makes regular free throw 1 of 2	24-24
6:26	+1	Nick Townsend makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-24
6:17		Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
6:15		Braden Huff offensive rebound
6:14		August Mahoney shooting foul (Braden Huff draws the foul)
6:14	+1	Braden Huff makes regular free throw 1 of 2	25-25
6:14	+1	Braden Huff makes regular free throw 2 of 2	25-26
6:06		Samson Aletan offensive foul
6:06		Samson Aletan turnover (offensive foul)
5:52		Braden Huff misses two point jump shot
5:50		August Mahoney defensive rebound
5:34	+3	John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot	28-26
5:19	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup	28-28
4:58	+3	John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot	31-28
4:51		John Poulakidas personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
4:51	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	31-29
4:51	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-30
4:31	+2	Nick Townsend makes two point layup	33-30
4:20	+3	Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot	33-33
3:57		August Mahoney turnover (lost ball) (Nolan Hickman steals)
3:49	+3	Braden Huff makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	33-36
3:42		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
3:42		TV timeout
3:16		Casey Simmons misses two point jump shot
3:14		Anton Watson defensive rebound
3:09		Casey Simmons personal foul (Ben Gregg draws the foul)
3:09		Ben Gregg misses regular free throw 1 of 2
3:09	+1	Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 2 of 2	33-37
2:44		Bez Mbeng misses three point jump shot
2:42		Anton Watson defensive rebound
2:32		Anton Watson misses two point jump shot
2:30		Ben Gregg offensive rebound
2:27	+2	Ben Gregg makes two point layup	33-39
2:12	+2	Yassine Gharram makes two point jump shot	35-39
2:12		Ben Gregg shooting foul (Yassine Gharram draws the foul)
2:12	+1	Yassine Gharram makes regular free throw 1 of 1	36-39
1:57		Nick Townsend personal foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
1:57	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2	36-40
1:57		Graham Ike misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:57		Bulldogs defensive rebound
1:43	+2	Matt Knowling makes two point hook shot	38-40
1:34	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	38-42
1:34		Bez Mbeng shooting foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
1:34	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 1	38-43
1:25		Nolan Hickman personal foul (Casey Simmons draws the foul)
1:25	+1	Casey Simmons makes regular free throw 1 of 2	39-43
1:25	+1	Casey Simmons makes regular free throw 2 of 2	40-43
1:03	+3	Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot	40-46
0:49		Luka Krajnovic personal foul (August Mahoney draws the foul)
0:49	+1	August Mahoney makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-46
0:49	+1	August Mahoney makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-46
0:37		Graham Ike misses two point jump shot
0:35		Nick Townsend defensive rebound
0:07		August Mahoney misses two point jump shot
0:05		Anton Watson defensive rebound
0:04		August Mahoney personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
0:04		Anton Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
0:04	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	42-47
0:04		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
YALE
Bulldogs
29
GONZ
Bulldogs
39

Time		Play	Score
19:43		Graham Ike offensive foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul)
19:43		Graham Ike turnover (offensive foul)
19:22		Matt Knowling misses two point jump shot
19:20		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
19:13		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
19:11		Matt Knowling defensive rebound
18:42		John Poulakidas misses three point jump shot
18:40		Danny Wolf offensive rebound
18:39		Graham Ike personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul)
18:31		Bez Mbeng misses two point jump shot
18:29		Braden Huff defensive rebound
18:23		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
18:21		Matt Knowling defensive rebound
18:07		Matt Knowling turnover (out of bounds)
17:51	+2	Braden Huff makes two point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists)	42-49
17:36		Danny Wolf misses two point layup
17:34		Anton Watson defensive rebound
17:19		Danny Wolf blocks Braden Huff's two point layup
17:17		Anton Watson offensive rebound
17:12	+2	Anton Watson makes two point layup	42-51
16:57		August Mahoney misses three point jump shot
16:55		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
16:49	+2	Anton Watson makes two point dunk (Ryan Nembhard assists)	42-53
16:49		Bulldogs 60 second timeout
16:49		TV timeout
16:26	+2	Bez Mbeng makes two point layup	44-53
16:06		August Mahoney personal foul (Dusty Stromer draws the foul)
15:53		Dusty Stromer misses two point layup
15:51		Danny Wolf defensive rebound
15:29		Bez Mbeng misses three point jump shot
15:27		Danny Wolf offensive rebound
15:24		Danny Wolf misses two point layup
15:22		Anton Watson defensive rebound
15:15		Braden Huff turnover (lost ball) (Bez Mbeng steals)
15:07		Bez Mbeng turnover (lost ball) (Dusty Stromer steals)
15:02	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup (Dusty Stromer assists)	44-55
14:47	+2	Matt Knowling makes two point layup (Yassine Gharram assists)	46-55
14:30		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
14:27		Danny Wolf defensive rebound
14:27		Braden Huff personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul)
14:27		TV timeout
14:07		John Poulakidas misses two point jump shot
14:05		Braden Huff defensive rebound
13:53		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
13:51		Matt Knowling defensive rebound
13:38		Matt Knowling misses two point layup
13:36		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
13:28		Dusty Stromer turnover (bad pass) (Bez Mbeng steals)
13:22	+2	Yassine Gharram makes two point layup (Bez Mbeng assists)	48-55
13:04	+3	Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	48-58
12:46		Nick Townsend misses three point jump shot
12:44		Anton Watson defensive rebound
12:36	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	48-60
12:13	+3	John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot (Yassine Gharram assists)	51-60
12:02	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	51-62
11:39		Bez Mbeng misses three point jump shot
11:37		Braden Huff defensive rebound
11:12	+2	Braden Huff makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists)	51-64
11:12		Matt Knowling shooting foul (Braden Huff draws the foul)
11:12		TV timeout
11:12	+1	Braden Huff makes regular free throw 1 of 1	51-65
10:48		John Poulakidas misses two point layup
10:46		Ben Gregg defensive rebound
10:32	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	51-68
10:18	+3	Bez Mbeng makes three point jump shot (Danny Wolf assists)	54-68
9:55		John Poulakidas shooting foul (Dusty Stromer draws the foul)
9:55	+1	Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-69
9:55	+1	Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-70
9:41	+2	Nick Townsend makes two point hook shot	56-70
9:24		Braden Huff turnover (bad pass) (Nick Townsend steals)
9:19		August Mahoney misses three point jump shot
9:17		Braden Huff defensive rebound
9:05		Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot
9:03		Nick Townsend defensive rebound
8:47	+3	August Mahoney makes three point jump shot (Casey Simmons assists)	59-70
8:29		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
8:27		Danny Wolf defensive rebound
8:17		August Mahoney misses three point jump shot
8:15		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
8:08		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
8:06		Bulldogs offensive rebound
7:52	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot	59-72
7:41		Nolan Hickman personal foul (Bez Mbeng draws the foul)
7:41		TV timeout
7:31		August Mahoney misses two point jump shot
7:29		Ben Gregg defensive rebound
7:05		Casey Simmons shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
7:05	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	59-73
7:05	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	59-74
6:52		Danny Wolf misses three point jump shot
6:50		Anton Watson defensive rebound
6:33	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	59-76
6:19		Yassine Gharram turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Nembhard steals)
6:13		Danny Wolf shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
6:13		Anton Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:13		Anton Watson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:13		Ben Gregg offensive rebound
6:04		Ben Gregg turnover (lost ball) (Matt Knowling steals)
5:50		John Poulakidas turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals)
5:44	+2	Anton Watson makes two point layup	59-78
5:23		Yassine Gharram turnover (bad pass) (Graham Ike steals)
5:17	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists)	59-80
5:03		Ben Gregg shooting foul (Casey Simmons draws the foul)
5:03	+1	Casey Simmons makes regular free throw 1 of 2	60-80
5:03	+1	Casey Simmons makes regular free throw 2 of 2	61-80
4:38		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
4:36		Danny Wolf defensive rebound
4:35		Braden Huff personal foul (Danny Wolf draws the foul)
4:18		Matt Knowling misses two point hook shot
4:16		Anton Watson defensive rebound
3:56		Bez Mbeng personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
3:56		TV timeout
3:54		Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
3:52		Braden Huff offensive rebound
3:34		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
3:32		Braden Huff offensive rebound
3:23	+2	Braden Huff makes two point dunk	61-82
3:13	+3	August Mahoney makes three point jump shot (Matt Knowling assists)	64-82
2:49		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
2:47		Braden Huff offensive rebound
2:32		Nolan Hickman misses two point layup
2:30		Anton Watson offensive rebound
2:29		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
2:11		Nick Townsend misses two point jump shot
2:09		Graham Ike defensive rebound
1:51		John Poulakidas personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
1:51		Ryan Nembhard misses regular free throw 1 of 1
1:51		Anton Watson offensive rebound
1:47	+2	Graham Ike makes two point dunk (Anton Watson assists)	64-84
1:24		Matt Knowling misses two point jump shot
1:22		August Mahoney offensive rebound
1:16	+3	John Poulakidas makes three point jump shot (Bez Mbeng assists)	67-84
0:52	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	67-86
0:43		Bez Mbeng misses three point jump shot
0:41		Matt Knowling offensive rebound
0:35	+2	Nick Townsend makes two point jump shot (Matt Knowling assists)	69-86
0:11		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
0:09		Nick Townsend defensive rebound
0:02	+2	John Poulakidas makes two point dunk (Bez Mbeng assists)	71-86
0:00		End of period

+ 2

John Poulakidas makes two point dunk (Bez Mbeng assists)