No. 20 Gonzaga routs Utah in Maui opener

By Jim O'Connell
Associated Press

Gonzaga's Ronny Turiaf, left, is fouled by Utah's Cameron Koford while attempting a shot in the Maui Invitational. Turiaf scored 24 points, 15 on free throws, in a 71-52 win. Michael Conroy • Associated Press

The sophomore scored a career-high 24 points in 24 minutes and No. 20 Gonzaga scored 19 straight points in the first half to take control in a 71-52 victory over Utah last night in the opening round of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

The Bulldogs (2-0) advanced to today's semifinals against No. 19 Indiana.

Gonzaga opened the season with a 69-61 victory at home over Hofstra, a game the Bulldogs felt shouldn't have been so close with the Pride missing two starters and a key reserve.

"We were mad and sad after that first game and we made sure we tried very hard this game and we did," said Turiaf.

Utah (1-1) led 8-4 when Gonzaga went on the game-breaking run that started with a jumper by Scott Bankhead with 13:56 left in the first half and ended on a tip-in by Zach Gourde that made it 23-8 with 7:05 left.

Tim Drisdom hit a jumper with 6:47 left in the half that ended Utah's scoreless drought that lasted 8:47. The 6-foot-10 Turiaf then scored Gonzaga's next seven points as the Bulldogs went on to a 37-20 halftime lead.

"This was a totally different team from our first time out," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "They took the criticism from the staff and the torture of watching the film and came out like ourselves."