Gray struggles as Zags lose to Fighting Illini

Published 11:06 pm Saturday, December 4, 2010

SEATTLE – It was not a homecoming game that Steven Gray will remember for his performance on the court.

Gray, a 2007 graduate of Bainbridge High School, scored 10 points on 3 for 12 shooting as the Gonzaga Bulldogs lost to the University of Illinois Fighting Illini 73-61 Saturday at the Battle of Seattle at Key Arena.

Gray made just one three-point shot off of four attempts. He also had three rebounds and three assists.

Gray said they had too many lapses during the game.

“That’s something that’s hurting us in our losses,” he said. “We’re not playing together for a full 40 minutes. When we do that, we’re making plays and we’re right there. It was just that one stretch that really hurt us.”

That one stretch – a 25-4 run in a six-minute span in the second half – effectively ended the game. Bill Cole, D.J. Richardson and Demetri McCaney all had six points all on three pointers. The Illini shot 64.3 percent in the second half from behind the arc.

“I think we have good shooters,” Iliinois head coach Bruce Weber said. “It was a good run of good basketball, making the right reads and hitting the open shots.”

Gray scored on a layup for the first Gonzaga points of the game, but didn’t score again until the 11:23 mark of the second half when he scored on a layup and was fouled. He converted the free throw to complete the three-point play.

It was part of a 10-0 run late in the second half that helped give the Zags some hope. He made his only three-point attempt at the 7:01 mark and was fouled on another three-point attempt 30 seconds later. He converted two of three at the line.

Weber gave credit to Richardson for his defense on Gray for much of the game.

“He really made him earn his points,” he said. “We were more aware of him. Last time (a 85-83 overtime win by Gonzaga in January at the United Arena in Chicago) we let him roam free. When we watch film (on Gonzaga) a lot of their stuff is going to him. We just said hey, we have to get to him and not let him get into a rhythm.”

Gray said it was a number of things that led to his struggles.

“I didn’t want to force a lot of bad shots and turn it over,” he said. “Our bigs were doing real well getting open in the post. When you see stuff like that, you gotta keep going to them and find other ways to impact the game.”

Sacre was the leading scorer for Gonzaga with 15 points. Elias Harris, who had not played the past few games as he was recovering from an Achilles injury, scored 12 points.

All five starters for Illinois scored in double figures. Tisdale and Richardson had 15 points.

Gonzaga (4-3) takes on Washington State Dec. 8.