Tweet
Hudson: What a ballgame in Moraga 70-60, it wasn't that easy as SMC had 7-11 threes in the first half and had a nice lead at the half. GU just didn't have any rhythm in the first half and didn't defend well. GU made the run in the second half and used the energy to get there and then SMC pushed it out again. It was good GU made that first run so quickly in the second half as they had time to fall behind and then go on a 19-5 run to end the game. Zags 28-1, 16-0 WCC and school record 21 in a row. Wiltjer struggled early but finished with 16, Karnowski and Pangos with 14. Waldow with 19 Bright 17. SMC shoots 54% in the first half, but only 28% in the second as the Zags really cranked up the defense. You didn't think the Gaels could shoot as well in the second as they did the first, but to go from 54% to 28% is remarkable. Zags outrebound SMC 34-30 with a lot of that work in the second half. What a finish for the 2nd ranked Bulldogs who overcame that 17 point first half deficit. SMC probably could not have performed better in the first half, with the Gaels fired up, Mills jersey retirement, the Zags were just lost in the first half. SMC jumped out 14-4 and the GU just couldn't get rolling in the first half. It took the Zags to the 5:30 mark in the first half to hit back to back baskets and everything was going SMC's way the first half. And then it flipped in the second half when GU made that opening run, but then SMC went on a 11-2 run to go up by double digits again 51-41 with 11 mins. left in the game. Both teams played so hard. GU got back in the game again when Wiltjer started knocking down some shots which occurred when Bell Wesley and Wiltjer reentered the game and Melson and McClellan went to the bench. It made the coaches look like geniuses at Wiltjer, Bell and Wesley scored three baskets in a row. Zags 10-10 from the free throw line and the last minutes, Santangelo said he didn't think any of the free throws even hit the rim as that 19-5 run ended the game. After SMC's hot start from 3, The Zags outshot SMC for the game 57% (8-14) to 45% (9-20). After scoring 40 in the first half, the Zags held the Gaels to 20 in the second half.
Michaelson: They were awesome in the first half, they attacked us, they had us on our heels. We didn't take away anything we wanted to do in the first half, but we flipped the switch in the 2nd half and started to do the things we want to do like taking away the three. Simmons hit a big three, bright hit a big three, but Wesley was a big contibutor down the stretch. Karnowski finished well for us down the stretch and he played good defense on Waldow especially later in the game when we really needed it. We were only 7-22 on layins for the game but you know Wiltjer grabbed every single rebound down the stretch. There is some special stuff that happened this weekend on the road moving to 21 wins in a row, it wasn't always pretty but we got it done. We were getting absolutely drubbed in the first half and everyone of those guys on the bench was absolutely engaged. I'm so proud of those guys on the bench, those guys that don't get to play much.
Hudson again: GU knocks off SMC for the 8th consecutive time. GU out rebounds the Gaels 14-4 in the final five minutes after getting beat up for the first 30 minutes of the game. When they needed to get it done they did. 12 rebounds for Wiltjer and 9 for Wesley. Pangos trying to get across the court for radio but GU fans still have him surrounded.
Pangos; It was awful falling behind like that but it was a good test for us to fall behind like that and it tested our character. Defense and sticking together and sticking to the plan and your offense executes helps you get back in the game. It is tough to fall behind, catch up fall behind again and then we really executed. We shut down Waldow and the threes in the second half. They still got some buckets but it wasn't as easy. We needed those plays from Wiltjer down the stretch, Karnowski at the rim, Wesley made some great plays. Any win I can get as a senior I'll take. We gotta keep getting better. It was disappointing coming out like that in the first half, but this was special coming back like we did. When it comes tournament time you gotta win six games and they won't all be pretty. We just want to win any way we can. Hudson noted it's better to learn the tough lessons in a win than in a loss but the Zags really got tested tonight as SMC was better on scoring, defense and rebounding in the first half and GU had to overcome all those and they did.
Michaelson: They were awesome in the first half, they attacked us, they had us on our heels. We didn't take away anything we wanted to do in the first half, but we flipped the switch in the 2nd half and started to do the things we want to do like taking away the three. Simmons hit a big three, bright hit a big three, but Wesley was a big contibutor down the stretch. Karnowski finished well for us down the stretch and he played good defense on Waldow especially later in the game when we really needed it. We were only 7-22 on layins for the game but you know Wiltjer grabbed every single rebound down the stretch. There is some special stuff that happened this weekend on the road moving to 21 wins in a row, it wasn't always pretty but we got it done. We were getting absolutely drubbed in the first half and everyone of those guys on the bench was absolutely engaged. I'm so proud of those guys on the bench, those guys that don't get to play much.
Hudson again: GU knocks off SMC for the 8th consecutive time. GU out rebounds the Gaels 14-4 in the final five minutes after getting beat up for the first 30 minutes of the game. When they needed to get it done they did. 12 rebounds for Wiltjer and 9 for Wesley. Pangos trying to get across the court for radio but GU fans still have him surrounded.
Pangos; It was awful falling behind like that but it was a good test for us to fall behind like that and it tested our character. Defense and sticking together and sticking to the plan and your offense executes helps you get back in the game. It is tough to fall behind, catch up fall behind again and then we really executed. We shut down Waldow and the threes in the second half. They still got some buckets but it wasn't as easy. We needed those plays from Wiltjer down the stretch, Karnowski at the rim, Wesley made some great plays. Any win I can get as a senior I'll take. We gotta keep getting better. It was disappointing coming out like that in the first half, but this was special coming back like we did. When it comes tournament time you gotta win six games and they won't all be pretty. We just want to win any way we can. Hudson noted it's better to learn the tough lessons in a win than in a loss but the Zags really got tested tonight as SMC was better on scoring, defense and rebounding in the first half and GU had to overcome all those and they did.
Comment