Timme leads way as Zags knock off No
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.– Drew Timme and Gonzaga’s veteran team overcame Alabama’s children in the end.Timme matched his season-high with 29 points and No. 15 Gonzaga overcame freshman Brandon Miller’s 36-point outburst to beat No. 4 Alabama 100-90 on Saturday in the C.M. Newton Classic.Timme had 10 rebounds and four helps and made 12 of 18 shots to help the Bulldogs(9-3) cool down among the country’s hottest groups. The Crimson Tide (9-2 )had won four straight and beat two No. 1 teams to make their highest ranking in 15 years, consisting of a road triumph over Houston for the nation’s top rebounding team.”Obviously, they’re a physical, tough bunch, “Timme stated.” All of us saw the Houston game. If you have the ability to rebound with them, you’re classified as a pretty difficult group, I would state. We knew it was going to be a fight, which’s what we enjoy which’s what we want.”
1 Related Alabama outrebounded Gonzaga 37-30 but still collected 12 less than usual, partially due to the fact that both teams shot much better than 50%.
It was a familiar circumstance– and outcome– for Gonzaga, which is 7-1 in regular-season games against teams ranked in the leading 5 by either the AP or the coaches’ survey considering that 2018-19.
Miller scored 26 points in the second half, including the group’s first 10. The nation’s top-scoring freshman had just delivered a 21-point second half in a 91-88 victory over Memphis however could not bring his team to the win this time.Timme got a lot more scoring support versus a team beginning 3 freshmen.The Bulldogs had six double-figure scorers.
Anton Watson scored 17, Nolan Hickman had 13 and Malachi Smith 12. Rasir Bolton and Julian Strawther each scored 11. Gonzaga made 20 of 27 second-half shots (74% ).
Freshman Jaden Bradley scored 18 points for Alabama in
his 2nd start. The third freshman starter, Noah Clowney, had 9 points and 13 rebounds.Miller, who doubled his season scoring average, made 6 of 11 3-pointers to keep it close. It was the most points by a Tide player considering that Kira Lewis Jr. scored 37 at Georgia on Feb. 8, 2020. Without his second-half rise,”we wouldn’t have been in the game at all, “Tide
coach Nate Oats said. “Our defense was really having a hard time,” Oats said. “Him being able to get
some pails in the second half kept us in the game. “Timme scored the last four points of the first half to stake Gonzaga to a 47-42 lead, holding Alabama scoreless over the last 2:56. Smith scored on a 3-pointer and a drive to give the Bulldogs a 79-67 lead with nine minutes left.It became a scoring battle between the senior Timme and one of the nation’s top freshmen.
Both delivered huge performances and high praise for each other.Timme called Miller an NBA draft”lottery-level guy.””He’s a hell of a player. He truly stepped up when his team needed him,” the Gonzaga star said.For his part, Miller said Timme”
has probably the best footwork in the nation.””I have actually never seen anything like that, “he stated.
“He is difficult to guard. He provided us difficulty early and after that offered us problem at the end of the game.
“THE TAKEAWAY Gonzaga: The Bulldogs dedicated just 9 turnovers. They shot 40 of 70(57.1%)from the flooring to return the favor after a 91-82 loss to Alabama last season in Seattle. The Zags reached 100 points for the 4th time this season.Alabama: Miller’s colleagues weren’t as hot from 3-point range, making simply 2 of 14 attempts. Alabama committed 21 turnovers. Freshmen scored the Tide’s first 16 points, including seven from Bradley and a set of Miller 3s. DIFFICULT SCHEDULE Alabama fell short of its fourth win over a Top 25 team, but Oats is hoping the difficult nonconference schedule pays dividends for his squad.”We’ll get better, “he said.
“We play these excellent games to determine what we have actually got to improve on and we have actually got a lot of things to work on.”UP NEXT Gonzaga hosts Montana on Tuesday night.Alabama hosts Jackson State on Tuesday night.