CSBAK

GONZAG

Preview not available

Ryan Nembhard scores season-high 22 points as No. 11 Gonzaga tops Cal State Bakersfield 81-65

AP
Nov 29, 2023

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) Ryan Nembhard scored a season-high 22 points and Anton Watson added 11 points and 13 rebounds as No. 11 Gonzaga beat Cal State Bakersfield 81-65 on Tuesday night.

Six players scored in double figures for the Bulldogs (5-1). Nolan Hickman had 13 points and freshman Dusty Stromer finished with a season-high 10.

Coming off three standout performances at the Maui Invitational that earned him West Coast Conference player of the week honors, Watson was held to a season low in points but made up for it with his work on the boards.

“He was great. I told him that afterwards,” Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. “The plays he makes, the way he competes - what can I say? He’s a winner, and he made a lot of winning plays tonight.”

Watson also got plenty of help in the scoring department. Braden Huff added 12 points off the bench and Graham Ike had 11.

It wasn’t a fluid effort for the Bulldogs in their first game back after playing three times in three days in Hawaii. Gonzaga went 2-1 at the tournament with wins over Syracuse and UCLA, and a loss to No. 1 Purdue.

Few noted that several members of the traveling party picked up an illness upon returning from Hawaii.

“Obviously that game was not our A game. We had some choppiness and that’s due to Bakersfield competing,” Few said. “They competed in every phase, and on a night like tonight you've got to buckle down and go make plays.”

The Bulldogs went through several shooting droughts against the Roadrunners, including a seven-minute stretch of the first half. But Gonzaga used an 11-2 run in the second half to break open the game, and Hickman’s layup gave the Bulldogs their largest lead at 70-48.

Top scorer Kaleb Higgins led the Roadrunners (3-4) with 21 points, and Modestas Kancleris added 12. Cal State Bakersfield pulled within 13 in the closing minutes but got no closer.

“We weren’t as focused as we needed to be, but at the end of the day a win is a win,” Nembhard said. “We’ll move forward and get right. Our defense is in a great place and we’re going to keep working on our offense.”

BIG PICTURE

Cal State Bakersfield: The Roadrunners were picked to finish eighth in the Big West preseason poll, but keeping the game close through the first half should give them confidence working through the nonconference part of their schedule.

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 against Cal State Bakersfield. It was a good tune-up for Gonzaga with a challenging next couple of weeks on the schedule.

UP NEXT

Cal State Bakersfield: Will host Whittier next Tuesday.

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs play Southern California on Saturday in Las Vegas.

---

Get poll alerts and updates on AP Top 25 basketball throughout the season. Sign up here --- AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
CSUB
Roadrunners
29
GONZ
Bulldogs
44

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Modestas Kancleris vs. Graham Ike (Roadrunners gains possession)
19:40		Cameron Wilbon misses two point jump shot
19:38		Bulldogs defensive rebound
19:24	+2	Anton Watson makes two point layup (Graham Ike assists)	0-2
19:11		Kaleb Higgins offensive foul
19:11		Kaleb Higgins turnover (offensive foul)
18:59	+3	Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Graham Ike assists)	0-5
18:22		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
18:20		Anton Watson defensive rebound
18:20		Anton Watson turnover (Modestas Kancleris steals)
18:17	+2	Modestas Kancleris makes two point layup	2-5
18:07		Fidelis Okereke shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
18:07		Graham Ike misses regular free throw 1 of 2
18:07	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2	2-6
18:01		Cameron Wilbon misses two point jump shot
17:59		Anton Watson defensive rebound
17:53	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	2-9
17:34	+2	Modestas Kancleris makes two point jump shot (Cameron Wilbon assists)	4-9
17:20		Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
17:18		Marvin McGhee defensive rebound
17:13	+3	Kaleb Higgins makes three point jump shot	7-9
16:47	+2	Graham Ike makes two point jump shot	7-11
16:29		Jaden Alexander misses two point layup
16:27		Anton Watson defensive rebound
16:20	+2	Dusty Stromer makes two point layup	7-13
15:59	+2	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes two point jump shot (Marvin McGhee assists)	9-13
15:47		Ugnius Jarusevicius personal foul
15:47		TV timeout
15:39	+2	Graham Ike makes two point layup	9-15
15:22		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
15:20		Anton Watson defensive rebound
15:12		Modestas Kancleris blocks Anton Watson's two point layup
15:10		Modestas Kancleris defensive rebound
14:55		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
14:53		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
14:44	+3	Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Anton Watson assists)	9-18
14:12		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses two point jump shot
14:10		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
14:06	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	9-20
14:04		Roadrunners 30 second timeout
13:42	+2	Kaleb Higgins makes two point driving layup	11-20
13:16		Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass)
13:09	+2	Jaden Alexander makes two point driving layup	13-20
12:54	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point stepback jump shot	13-22
12:43		Corey Stephenson turnover (lost ball)
12:25	+2	Braden Huff makes two point turnaround hook shot	13-24
11:58	+2	Corey Stephenson makes two point pullup jump shot	15-24
11:45	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point fadeaway jump shot	15-26
11:29		Kaleb Higgins misses three point jump shot
11:27		Modestas Kancleris offensive rebound
11:22	+2	Fidelis Okereke makes two point driving layup	17-26
11:06		Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot
11:04		Jaden Alexander defensive rebound
10:34	+3	Kaleb Higgins makes three point jump shot (Corey Stephenson assists)	20-26
10:26		Dusty Stromer turnover (lost ball)
10:26		TV timeout
10:11		Fidelis Okereke turnover (bad pass)
9:54		Graham Ike misses two point hook shot
9:52		Tom Mark defensive rebound
9:49		Jaden Alexander offensive foul (Nolan Hickman draws the foul)
9:49		Jaden Alexander turnover (offensive foul)
9:28		Graham Ike misses two point jump shot
9:26		Cameron Wilbon defensive rebound
9:04		Kaleb Higgins misses two point jump shot
9:02		Graham Ike defensive rebound
8:46		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
8:44		Cameron Wilbon defensive rebound
8:19		Kaleb Higgins misses three point jump shot
8:17		Graham Ike defensive rebound
8:08		Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot
8:06		Graham Ike offensive rebound
8:03		Graham Ike misses two point layup
8:03		Roadrunners defensive rebound
7:36		Modestas Kancleris misses three point jump shot
7:34		Jun Seok Yeo defensive rebound
7:14		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
7:12		Graham Ike offensive rebound
7:09		Modestas Kancleris shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
7:09		TV timeout
7:09	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-27
7:09	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-28
6:48		Kaleb Higgins misses two point jump shot
6:46		Anton Watson defensive rebound
6:41		Marvin McGhee shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul)
6:41	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 2	20-29
6:41	+1	Graham Ike makes regular free throw 2 of 2	20-30
6:13		Kaleb Higgins misses two point jump shot
6:11		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
6:02		Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot
6:00		Cameron Wilbon defensive rebound
5:37		Cameron Wilbon misses two point floating jump shot
5:35		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
5:27		Anton Watson misses three point jump shot
5:25		Cameron Wilbon defensive rebound
4:58		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
4:56		Anton Watson defensive rebound
4:46	+2	Anton Watson makes two point driving layup	20-32
4:21		Graham Ike shooting foul (Ugnius Jarusevicius draws the foul)
4:21	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 1 of 2	21-32
4:21	+1	Ugnius Jarusevicius makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-32
4:07	+2	Braden Huff makes two point driving dunk (Ryan Nembhard assists)	22-34
3:50		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
3:48		Braden Huff defensive rebound
3:43		TV timeout
3:22		Fidelis Okereke shooting foul (Dusty Stromer draws the foul)
3:22	+1	Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 1 of 2	22-35
3:22	+1	Dusty Stromer makes regular free throw 2 of 2	22-36
2:59		Kaleb Higgins misses two point driving layup
2:57		Anton Watson defensive rebound
2:51		Jaden Alexander blocks Anton Watson's two point layup
2:49		Jaden Alexander defensive rebound
2:47		Nolan Hickman personal foul
2:43		Ben Gregg shooting foul (Kaleb Higgins draws the foul)
2:43	+1	Kaleb Higgins makes regular free throw 1 of 2	23-36
2:43	+1	Kaleb Higgins makes regular free throw 2 of 2	24-36
2:29	+2	Braden Huff makes two point turnaround hook shot	24-38
2:00	+2	Jaden Alexander makes two point driving layup	26-38
2:00		Dusty Stromer shooting foul (Jaden Alexander draws the foul)
2:00	+1	Jaden Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 1	27-38
1:39		Graham Ike misses two point hook shot
1:37		Anton Watson offensive rebound
1:32		Anton Watson misses two point layup
1:30		Braden Huff offensive rebound
1:25	+2	Braden Huff makes two point putback layup	27-40
0:58		Jump ball. Corey Stephenson vs. Anton Watson (Bulldogs gains possession)
0:58		Corey Stephenson turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals)
0:49	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point driving layup	27-42
0:40	+2	Jaden Alexander makes two point layup	29-42
0:07		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
0:05		Braden Huff offensive rebound
0:02	+2	Braden Huff makes two point putback layup	29-44
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
CSUB
Roadrunners
36
GONZ
Bulldogs
37

Time		Play	Score
19:41	+2	Fidelis Okereke makes two point layup	31-44
19:27	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot	31-46
19:07		Cameron Wilbon misses two point hook shot
19:05		Modestas Kancleris offensive rebound
18:56	+2	Modestas Kancleris makes two point layup	33-46
18:52		Nolan Hickman turnover (bad pass) (Fidelis Okereke steals)
18:44	+2	Modestas Kancleris makes two point layup	35-46
18:34		Kaleb Higgins personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
18:30	+3	Nolan Hickman makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists)	35-49
18:17	+2	Kaleb Higgins makes two point jump shot	37-49
17:54	+2	Anton Watson makes two point jump shot	37-51
17:28		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
17:26		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
17:16		Nolan Hickman offensive foul
17:16		Nolan Hickman turnover (offensive foul)
16:50	+2	Kaleb Higgins makes two point jump shot	39-51
16:35	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot	39-53
16:19		Kaleb Higgins misses two point layup
16:17		Nolan Hickman defensive rebound
16:14		Fidelis Okereke personal foul (Bulldogs draws the foul)
16:10		Modestas Kancleris blocks Dusty Stromer's two point layup
16:08		Ugnius Jarusevicius defensive rebound
16:00		Corey Stephenson misses two point layup
16:00		Anton Watson defensive rebound
16:00		Corey Stephenson personal foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
16:00		TV timeout
15:43		Jaden Alexander personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
15:29	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup	39-55
15:08	+2	Corey Stephenson makes two point layup	41-55
14:55		Dusty Stromer misses three point jump shot
14:53		Jaden Alexander defensive rebound
14:34		Corey Stephenson misses two point jump shot
14:32		Dusty Stromer defensive rebound
14:21		Nolan Hickman misses three point jump shot
14:21		Anton Watson offensive rebound
14:21		Corey Stephenson shooting foul (Anton Watson draws the foul)
14:21		Anton Watson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:21	+1	Anton Watson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-56
14:07		Anton Watson blocks Cameron Wilbon's two point layup
14:05		Anton Watson defensive rebound
14:01		Jaden Alexander personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
14:01	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-57
14:01	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-58
13:46		Jaden Alexander offensive foul
13:46		Jaden Alexander turnover (offensive foul)
13:37		Nolan Hickman turnover (out of bounds)
13:09	+3	Marvin McGhee makes three point jump shot (Modestas Kancleris assists)	44-58
12:50		Ugnius Jarusevicius shooting foul (Braden Huff draws the foul)
12:50	+1	Braden Huff makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-59
12:50	+1	Braden Huff makes regular free throw 2 of 2	44-60
12:19		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses two point layup
12:17		Modestas Kancleris offensive rebound
12:11		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
12:09		Anton Watson defensive rebound
11:55		Marvin McGhee personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
11:55		TV timeout
11:55		Ryan Nembhard misses regular free throw 1 of 1
11:55		Kareem Watson defensive rebound
11:39		Kareem Watson misses two point jump shot
11:37		Bulldogs defensive rebound
11:23		Ugnius Jarusevicius blocks Braden Huff's two point hook shot
11:21		Marvin McGhee defensive rebound
11:03		Ugnius Jarusevicius turnover (bad pass)
10:52		Graham Ike turnover (lost ball) (Kaleb Higgins steals)
10:46		Kaleb Higgins misses two point layup
10:44		Anton Watson defensive rebound
10:36	+2	Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup (Anton Watson assists)	44-62
10:36		Anton Watson personal foul (Kaleb Higgins draws the foul)
10:16		Corey Stephenson misses two point jump shot
10:14		Bulldogs defensive rebound
9:56		Jun Seok Yeo turnover (traveling)
9:38		Jun Seok Yeo personal foul (Roadrunners draws the foul)
9:38		Jun Seok Yeo blocks Fidelis Okereke's two point layup
9:36		Graham Ike defensive rebound
9:29		Jun Seok Yeo misses three point jump shot
9:29		Graham Ike offensive rebound
9:29	+2	Graham Ike makes two point layup	44-64
9:14		Graham Ike personal foul (Jaden Alexander draws the foul)
9:14	+1	Jaden Alexander makes regular free throw 1 of 2	45-64
9:14	+1	Jaden Alexander makes regular free throw 2 of 2	46-64
9:03		Anton Watson misses two point jump shot
9:01		Modestas Kancleris defensive rebound
8:40		Marvin McGhee turnover (bad pass) (Nolan Hickman steals)
8:34	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	46-66
8:15		Marvin McGhee turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Nembhard steals)
8:07	+2	Jun Seok Yeo makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists)	46-68
8:05		Roadrunners 30 second timeout
8:05	+2	Modestas Kancleris makes two point layup (Kaleb Higgins assists)	48-68
7:54	+2	Nolan Hickman makes two point layup	48-70
7:40		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses three point jump shot
7:38		Roadrunners offensive rebound
7:22		Dusty Stromer personal foul (Roadrunners draws the foul)
7:22		TV timeout
7:08	+2	Kaleb Higgins makes two point jump shot	50-70
6:42		Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup
6:40		Modestas Kancleris defensive rebound
6:32	+2	Modestas Kancleris makes two point jump shot (Kaleb Higgins assists)	52-70
6:10		Nolan Hickman misses two point layup
6:08		Fidelis Okereke defensive rebound
6:03		Modestas Kancleris misses two point jump shot
6:00		Bulldogs defensive rebound
5:32		Dusty Stromer misses two point jump shot
5:30		Fidelis Okereke defensive rebound
5:20		Kaleb Higgins misses two point jump shot
5:18		Roadrunners offensive rebound
5:18		Graham Ike flagrant 1 (Fidelis Okereke draws the foul)
5:18	+1	Fidelis Okereke makes regular free throw 1 of 2	53-70
5:18	+1	Fidelis Okereke makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-70
5:15		Kaleb Higgins turnover (bad pass) (Ryan Nembhard steals)
5:13		Corey Stephenson shooting foul (Nolan Hickman draws the foul)
5:13	+1	Nolan Hickman makes regular free throw 1 of 2	54-71
5:13	+1	Nolan Hickman makes regular free throw 2 of 2	54-72
5:02		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
5:00		Jaden Alexander offensive rebound
4:52	+3	Marvin McGhee makes three point jump shot (Fidelis Okereke assists)	57-72
4:29		Ryan Nembhard turnover (bad pass) (Marvin McGhee steals)
4:23		Nolan Hickman blocks Kaleb Higgins's two point layup
4:21		Roadrunners offensive rebound
4:04	+2	Kaleb Higgins makes two point jump shot	59-72
3:42		Anton Watson misses two point layup
3:40		Dusty Stromer offensive rebound
3:37	+3	Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Braden Huff assists)	59-75
3:14		Kaleb Higgins misses two point layup
3:12		Modestas Kancleris offensive rebound
2:59		Marvin McGhee misses three point jump shot
2:57		Bulldogs defensive rebound
2:57		TV timeout
2:43		Braden Huff misses two point layup
2:41		Bulldogs offensive rebound
2:38		Corey Stephenson personal foul (Ryan Nembhard draws the foul)
2:38	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 1 of 3	59-76
2:38		Ryan Nembhard misses regular free throw 2 of 3
2:38	+1	Ryan Nembhard makes regular free throw 3 of 3	59-77
2:21	+3	Marvin McGhee makes three point jump shot (Ugnius Jarusevicius assists)	62-77
2:19		Roadrunners 30 second timeout
1:50	+2	Anton Watson makes two point layup	62-79
1:37	+3	Kaleb Higgins makes three point jump shot	65-79
1:00		Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot
0:58		Jaden Alexander defensive rebound
0:41		Ugnius Jarusevicius misses two point layup
0:39		Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound
0:23	+2	Anton Watson makes two point layup	65-81
0:00		End of period

+ 2

Anton Watson makes two point layup