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Northwest Notes Sept. 18, 2021

| September 18, 2021 1:00 AM

Zags announce 2021-22 nonconference hoops schedule

SPOKANE — Gonzaga's men's basketball nonconference schedule for 2021-22 features 11 of the 16 games at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

During the first two months of the season, the Zags face a potential of four teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament last season, and another that played in the postseason.

Gonzaga plays teams from 10 different conferences, including the ACC, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC. The Bulldogs are also a participant in this year's Empire Classic and three more neutral site games.

The Zags open their schedule on Oct. 31, with an exhibition against Eastern Oregon, before welcoming Lewis-Clark State in another exhibition on Nov. 5.

GU starts the regular season at home versus Dixie State on Nov. 9. Last season, the Trailblazers launched the transition to Division 1 status after a decade as a NCAA Division 2 Tournament perennial.

Gonzaga and Texas square off in a potential top-five matchup on Nov. 13 in Spokane. Gonzaga has won all three previous matchups, including the latest a 76-71 overtime thriller at the PK80 Invitational in Portland on Nov. 26, 2017. The Longhorns were 19-8 last season and ended in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs host Alcorn State and Bellarmine on Nov. 15 and 19.

The Empire Classic is scheduled for Nov. 22 and 23 in the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In another first-ever matchup, GU faces Central Michigan on Nov. 22.

A highly anticipated rematch with UCLA is on Nov. 23. The Zags have taken four of the previous six meetings with the Bruins, but the two teams hadn't met for over six years prior to their Final Four clash in Indianapolis in April. The 93-90 overtime thriller sent GU to its second national championship game and was the second-most viewed NCAA Tournament game in the nation behind the eventual title game between the Zags and Baylor.

Another big rematch happens in the T-Mobile Arena on Nov. 26. Duke and Gonzaga meet for the first time since their thrilling Maui Invitational championship game in 2018. The Zags prevailed in an exciting 89-87 outcome. GU was No. 3 at the time, while the Blue Devils were No. 1. Duke has a 3-1 all-time edge in the series.

Tarleton State, a member of the WAC which began its Division I transitional period last fall, comes to Spokane on Nov. 29.

Alabama and Gonzaga face off in the return of the Battle in Seattle on Dec. 4. The first-ever meeting between the programs will be the first college basketball game played in the new Climate Pledge Arena.

On Dec. 9, Gonzaga hosts Merrimack College out of North Andover, Mass.

Gonzaga and Texas Tech will square off in the third annual Jerry Colangelo Classic in Phoenix on Dec. 18. The Zags meet Texas Tech for the first time since the programs played to a thrilling Elite Eight finish in Anaheim, Calif., in 2019. The Red Raiders pulled away late, 76-69, to earn a trip to the Final Four.

The Bulldogs complete their nonconference slate on Dec. 20 and 28, welcoming Northern Arizona and North Alabama.

Gonzaga's game times and television information will be released in the near future.