Gonzaga made it look easy.
The 15th-ranked Bulldogs opened a large lead early and then cruised to a 103-68 victory Wednesday night over the University of the Incarnate Word.
Gonzaga, a Final Four team a year ago, jumped on UIW 19-2 and then kept pouring it on en route to a 49-26 lead at the half.
In the game played at the McCarthey Center in Spokane, Washington, forward Rui Hachimura scored 18 points to lead four Gonzaga players in double figures.
The Bulldogs (6-1) shot 54.4 percent from the field to hand UIW its third straight loss.
On the defensive end, Gonzaga held the Cardinals (3-3) to 43.9 percent and 15 points under their scoring average.
Point guard Jalin Hart led UIW with 17 points.
Cardinals forward Charles Brown III sat out his second straight game with a lower leg injury.
HALF: @ZagMBB knock down eight 3-pointers in the first half to take a 49-26 lead over Incarnate Word at the break. Perkins leads all scorers with 13 points on 5 of 5 shooting from the field. #UnitedWeZag pic.twitter.com/uumToR6kVi
— Gonzaga Athletics (@GonzagaBulldogs) November 30, 2017
Josh Perkins sparked Gonzaga in the first half by hitting all five of his shots from the field for 13 points.
In the early going, Simi Socks knocked down a jumper for UIW to tie the score at 2-2.
From there, Gonzaga rattled off 17 straight points. A three-pointer by Perkins with 14:30 left in the half made it 19-2.
Upcoming
Sacramento State has canceled Saturday’s men’s basketball game at the University of the Incarnate Word, according to a news release from UIW.
UIW released the information on Wednesday afternoon.
A Sacramento State spokesman said Thursday “we bought out of the game in early October” after reaching a deal to play in the Wooden Legacy tournament.
The spokesman said Sacramento State has agreed to pay UIW $100,000 in compensation.
UIW will play its next game Dec. 5 when it hosts Texas Lutheran.
Injury report
Brown’s injury is a blow to the Cardinals, who rely on him for scoring and rebounding.
He sustained the injury late in a Nov. 22 home game against Loyola Marymount.
Brown, who averages 14 points and 5.5 rebounds, has now missed the past two games.
In the three-game skid, UIW has lost at home to Loyola Marymount (91-87) and on the road at Houston (97-58) and at Gonzaga.