Nolan Hickman scores 19 points, Gonzaga uses big runs to beat Warner Pacific in exhibition game

Mark Few urged Gonzaga to step up its defense after the Bulldogs gave up a listless 96 points to USC during Saturday's exhibition in Palm Desert, California.

The message got through to Gonzaga about the 10-minute mark of Wednesday's game against Warner Pacific — an NAIA club from Portland — at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

That's when the Bulldogs went on their biggest run of the game – fueled by numerous turnovers by Warner Pacific – and maintained the momentum until the end of the game to earn a 109-52 win in their final game before Monday's season opener against Baylor.

Gonzaga led 21-19 when a lineup of Ryan Nembhard, Nolan Hickman, Dusty Stromer, Michael Ajayi and Graham Ike went 12-0, which eventually turned into a 36-3 run 2 minutes, 25 seconds into the game before the end of the first half.

After leading by two points with 10 minutes, 38 seconds left, the Zags led 64-27 at halftime, scoring 88 of the final 121 points.

They forced 23 turnovers from Warner Pacific, including seven in a 7-minute span in the first half, and held the Knights to 19 of 62 from the field.

Hickman accounted for seven of GU's first 14 points and led the Zags with 19 points. Ajayi and Braden Huff both finished with 14 points, Nembhard had nine points and seven assists, Ben Gregg had eight points to go and 11 rebounds and Graham Ike finished the game with 11 points and eight rebounds.