SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pacific men's basketball program hung around for most of the night, but Gonzaga was able to shake off the Tigers in the final eight minutes for a 102-76 final Saturday at the McCarthey Athletic Center.
 
Pacific (6-22, 0-13 WCC) was in striking distance for most of the way as freshman Villiam Garcia Adsten drilled a three to trail 73-61 with 8:52 to go. However, Gonzaga (20-6, 10-2 WCC) answered with a decisive 12-0 run with under eight minutes left to pull away.
 
The Tigers withstood a scorching hot shooting night from the Bulldogs who went 37-of-56 (.661) from the field and 20-of-22 (.909) from the free throw line. Pacific only trailed 47-34 at the intermission despite Gonzaga shooting 19-of-28 (.679) from the floor in the first half.
 
Senior Nick Blake came off the bench to drain a season-high 20 points. He helped the Tigers outscore the Bulldogs 38-26 off the bench, which was also heavily aided by Garcia Adsten's career-high nine points.
 

N. Blake from way downtown.

He hits his second 3FG of the half.#PacificProud pic.twitter.com/O1KmBmDoKy

— Pacific Men's Basketball (@PacificMensBB) February 18, 2024

With 16 points was senior Donovan Williams who was a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. Sophomore Moe Odum turned in a solid eight points, five assists and three steals.
 
Gonzaga was guided by Graham Ike who finished with 21 points. Ryan Nembhard recorded a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 14-2 at the 16:33 mark. A three by junior Tyler Beard cut it to 18-9 at the 14:09 mark. The Tigers remained down 26-17 with 11:10 left after a pair of free throws by Odum.
 
Gonzaga created a bit of separation 43-25 with 5:17 remaining when Blake responded with his third three of the half. A put-back by senior Judson Martindale and a lay-up by junior Cam Denson trimmed it to 43-32 at the 2:16 mark. Though, the Bulldogs scored the final bucket of the half to lead 47-34 at the intermission.
 
The second half began with a lay-up by Williams, and moments later he converted an old-fashion three-point play to make it a 49-39 game with 18:49 left. Pacific trailed 55-45 after lay-in by Garcia Adsten at the 15:25 mark.
 
The Tigers continued to hang around after a three-point play by Denson kept it at a 62-50 spread with 13:36 remaining. A three from the top of the arc by Garcia Adsten had Pacific down 73-61 with 8:52 to go.
 
Though, the Bulldogs pulled away with a 12-0 run to build an 85-61 edge with 7:03 left. Gonzaga extended its lead in the closing minutes.
 
The Tigers return home for a mid-week game Wednesday against Pepperdine at 7 p.m. at the Alex G. Spanos Center. Pacific has won six straight home games against the Waves.
 
NOTES
- The Tigers shot a season-high .913 (21-of-23) from the free throw line. The last time they shot over .900 from the charity stripe was coincidentally against Gonzaga with an identical 21-of-23 mark on Jan. 21, 2023 at home.
 
- Blake surpassed his previous season-high of 14 points against Stanislaus State. He was three shy of his career-high 23 against Loyola Marymount on Dec. 31, 2022. Blake, who was a perfect 5-of-5 from the free throw line, registered his 32nd career double-figure scoring game and seventh this year.
 
- Williams tallied 16 points for the second consecutive game. His 8-of-8 mark from the charity stripe was the best by a Tiger since Alphonso Anderson was 8-of-8 against BYU on Jan. 29, 2022. Williams notched his 19th career double-digit scoring performance and 13th this year.
 
- Garcia Adsten topped his previous career-high of seven points at Cal on Nov. 10, 2023. His four field goals made were also a career-best.
 
- Odum entered the game ranked second in the WCC in assists (4.8 apg) and third in assist:turnover ratio (2.5). He submitted five assists and just one turnover on the night.
 
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