Timme’s 22 Lead No. 2 Zags Past Spartans on Carrier Deck

Gonzaga plays Michigan State during the first half of the Carrier Classic NCAA college basketball game aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, in Coronado, San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2022. Gregory Bull/AP Photo

CORONADO, Calif.—Drew Timme had 22 points and 13 rebounds, and led No. 2 Gonzaga in a spirited comeback from a 12-point deficit that carried the Bulldogs to a 64–63 victory over Michigan State Friday night, Nov. 11, on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln at North Island Naval Air Station.

Timme made an inside shot with 2:24 left for a 63–61 lead, Gonzaga’s first since early in the game. The Zags scored just one more point, when Timme made the second of two free throws with 1:51 left.

Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther was called for traveling with 31 seconds left and Michigan State’s Jaden Akins missed a desperation 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Strawther had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Nolan Hickman scored 10 for Gonzaga (2–0).

Malik Hall (25) and Mady Sissoko #22 of the Michigan State Spartans defend against Julian Strawther (0) of the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the first half of the Armed Forces Classic aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in San Diego, on Nov. 11, 2022. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Michigan State big man Mady Sissoko scored 10 of his 14 points in the first half but committed his third foul early in the second half and didn’t have much of an impact the rest of the way.

The Spartans (1–1) led 45-33 three minutes into the second half before Timme and the Zags went on an 11-0 run to pull to 45-44. Timme made a spin move layup, was fouled and made the free throw, and then fed Rasir Bolton for a baseline jumper to close within three points. Efton Reid III’s slam dunk got the Zags to 45–44.

Gonzaga forward Drew Timme, left, drives to the basked at Michigan State center Mady Sissoko defends during the first half of the Carrier Classic NCAA college basketball game aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, in Coronado, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2022. Gregory Bull/AP Photo

Tyson Walker made a layup with 12:10 left to break MSU’s five-minute scoring drought.

As impressive as he was overall, Timme made just four of 10 free throws and could have given the Zags a cushion late in the game.

The game was played 11 years to the day after North Carolina beat Michigan State on the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson at North Island NAS.

The teams wore camouflage uniforms with U.S.A. on the back. Just before the second half began, the crowd rose for the retiring of the flag at sunset. The crowd of 3,000 was made up mostly of sailors from the aircraft carrier as well as fans of both teams.

Michigan State led 38–31 at halftime largely on the strength of the powerful inside game of the 6-foot-9 Sissoko. Sissoko had three slam dunks in the final 5 minutes of the half, including on an alley-oop pass from A.J. Hoggard. His final two dunks helped the Spartans take control. Michigan State had consecutive steals, which had coach Tom Izzo emphatically pumping his fist.

Neither team was afraid to hoist 3-pointers and each team made a shot from behind the arc in the first two minutes. The wind appeared to affect just one 3-point shot as the six-level conning tower and the scoreboard blocked most of the wind off the Pacific Ocean.

Julian Strawther (0) of the Gonzaga Bulldogs drives toward the basket as Malik Hall (25) of the Michigan State Spartans defends during the second half of the Armed Forces Classic aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in Coronado, Calif., on Nov. 11, 2022. Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

Big Picture

Michigan State: Coach Tom Izzo dropped to 0–2 in aircraft carrier games on San Diego Bay. His unranked Spartans certainly got Gonzaga’s attention with some tough defense.

Gonzaga: Timme returned for his senior season to take a final shot at bringing an elusive national title to Spokane.

Up Next

Michigan State plays No. 4 Kentucky at Indianapolis on Tuesday night.

Gonzaga plays at No. 12 Texas on Wednesday night.

By Bernie Wilson