Zags cruise past St. Thomas Aquinas, 109-55
By Andy Buhler
The Zags flexed frontcourt depth as Angel Nunez finished with a game-high 24 points and 11 rebounds and Domantas Sabonis chipped in 19 points on 8-of-8 shooting from the field to lead Gonzaga to a 109-55 victory over Division II opponent St. Thomas Aquinas.
Byron Wesley lead all starters with 22 points, five rebounds and three steals on 8-of-10 shooting (in 23 minutes), as the Zags shot whopping 67.7 percent from the field. Kyle Wiltjer chipped in 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Przemek Karnowski added 10 points, five boards and a couple blocks.
Matthew Lee led the Saints with 13 points and center Sam Berlin tallied nine. Lee, a freshman, is the tallest player on the roster at six-foot-ten and behind him no player exceeds six-foot-five-inches and 190 pounds.
But the game ball belonged to Nunez.
The emergence of Angel…
Nunez, as a junior last season, averaged just 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds in limited minutes and he was widely expected to do the same this year. In the early stages of this season, he has averaged 10.8 points and 6.5 rebounds so far this season. Last game against St. Joe’s he came off the bench to have nine points and eight rebounds.
But the six-foot-eight-inch forward had the game everyone has been waiting for. While the Saints did not have the defensive personal to even attempt to guard Nunez, but the role player thus far could possibly have had his coming out party against the Saints.
Going 3 of 4 four from 3-point range, Nunez proved that in fact he can shoot the ball which always was in question.
KEVIN PANGOS TURNOVER TRACKER: With seven assists in 19 minutes, Pangos had zero turnovers on the night, which continues his season streak of not turning the ball over.
Up next…
The Zags will face Georgia in the NIT Season Tipoff semi-finals on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time in Madison Square Garden in New York City.