Gonzaga Too Much on Bad Night For Hall

Source: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images North America

The Seton Hall University Pirates were defeated in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament by the Gonzaga Bulldogs 68-52 on Thursday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

The Bulldogs were led by 6-foot-11 sophomore Domantas Sabonis who had a remarkable 21 points and 16 rebounds for his 21st double-double of the season.

“I mean, Sabonis, he’s a great player,” Seton Hall sophomore Isaiah Whitehead said. “He finishes around the basket. I mean, he rebounds with the best of them. I mean, you just have to take your hat off to him. He had a terrific game. He really didn’t make a lot of mistakes.”

Sabonis’s 16 rebounds are a Gonzaga NCAA tournament record, surpassing Casey Calvary (15 in 2001).

Senior Kyle Wiltjer also tallied his 31st double-figure scoring game of the season with 13 points.

Over the final 8:44 of the first half, Gonzaga held Seton Hall without a field goal, closing
on a 15-4 run. During the span, the Pirates – who led 21-20 when the run began – were 0-of-15 from the field, in addition to two turnovers and a technical foul called against. All four of Seton Hall’s points came from the charity stripe (4-of-8).

The Blue and White scratched their way back into things in the second half thanks in large part to senior Derrick Gordon, who scored 10 points, marking the third consecutive game that he has scored in double digits.

Whitehead finished 4-for-24 from the field including 0-for-10 from behind the arc.

“I feel it was just an off night,” Whitehead said. “I faced some of the toughest defensive groups in the country playing in the Big East. This is probably my worst shooting performance. I think it was just more missing shots. I had some good looks, but just couldn’t knock ’em down.”

The Pirates finished the season with a record of 25-8 and won their first Big East Tournament Championship since 1993.

The Zags will take on No.3 Utah on Saturday.