Gonzaga rallies, avoids Michigan State upset on flight deck

CORONADO, Calif. — Drew Timme had 22 factors and 13 rebounds and led No. 2 Gonzaga in a spirited comeback from a 12-point deficit that carried the Bulldogs to a 64-63 victory over Michigan State Friday evening on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln at North Island Naval Air Station.

Timme made an inside shot with 2:24 left for a 63-61 lead, Gonzaga’s first since early within the recreation. The Zags scored only one extra level, when Timme made the second of two free throws with 1:51 left.

Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther was referred to as for touring with 31 seconds left and Michigan State’s Jaden Akins missed a desperation 3-pointer on the buzzer.

Strawther had 13 factors and 9 rebounds, and Nolan Hickman scored 10 for Gonzaga (2-0).

Michigan State massive man Mady Sissoko scored 10 of his 14 factors within the first half however dedicated his third foul early within the second half and did not have a lot of an affect the remainder of the best way.

The Spartans (1-1) led 45-33 three minutes into the second half earlier than Timme and the Zags went on an 11-0 run to drag to 45-44. Timme made a spin transfer layup, was fouled and made the free throw, after which fed Rasir Bolton for a baseline jumper to shut inside three factors. Efton Reid III’s slam dunk acquired the Zags to 45-44.

Tyson Walker made a layup with 12:10 left to interrupt MSU’s five-minute scoring drought.

As spectacular as he was total, Timme made simply 4 of 10 free throws and will have given the Zags a cushion late within the recreation.

The sport was performed 11 years to the day after North Carolina beat Michigan State on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson at North Island NAS, with then-president Barack Obama and spouse Michelle watching from courtside.

The groups wore camouflage uniforms with U.S.A. on the again. Simply earlier than the second half started, the gang rose for the retiring of the flag at sundown. The gang of three,000 was made up largely of sailors from the plane provider in addition to followers of each groups.

Michigan State led 38-31 at halftime largely on the energy of the highly effective inside recreation of the 6-foot-9 Sissoko. Sissoko had three slam dunks within the last 5 minutes of the half, together with on an alley-oop go from A.J. Hoggard. His last two dunks helped the Spartans take management. Michigan State had consecutive steals, which had coach Tom Izzo emphatically pumping his fist.

Neither crew was afraid to hoist 3-pointers and every crew made a shot from behind the arc within the first two minutes. The wind appeared to have an effect on only one 3-point shot because the six-level conning tower and the scoreboard blocked a lot of the wind off the Pacific Ocean.