SPOKANE, Wash. — Steven Gray missed the first 10 games of his freshman season after fracturing his wrist, and was cleared to play just last week.
On Monday night, Gray scored 12 points and played 28 crucial minutes as 18th-ranked and injury-riddled Gonzaga beat overmatched Northern Colorado 77-57.
It was the first regular-season appearance for Gray, who fractured his wrist in an exhibition game and had a pin inserted Nov. 14.
With leading scorer Matt Bouldin out with an ankle injury, and starting guard Jeremy Pargo slowed by a hyperextended knee, Gray’s expected playing time grew sharply in the past week.
“At first it was ‘You’ll get some minutes at the end,’ ” Gray said. “Then Matt went down, and they told me to be ready to go. You have to make the most of your opportunities.”
Gray, who is also battling a cold, added four rebounds.
“I was proud how Steven came out in his first action,” coach Mark Few said.
Freshman Austin Daye had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Zags (9-2), while Micah Downs added 17 points, making a career-high 5-of-10 3-pointers, and Pargo had 10 points and eight assists.
Northern Colorado (5-4) started strong, but the Zags’ defense wore down the Bears, who shot 24 percent in the first half and 31 percent for the game. They missed their first 13 shots from 3-point range, and finished 4-of-20 from behind the arc.
“We couldn’t get anything going offensively,” Bears coach Tad Boyle said. “Our guys aren’t used to playing against that size of players.”
The status of Bouldin, a former ThunderRidge High School athlete who averages 13.3 points, is unclear for Thursday’s game at Oklahoma, Few said.
After falling behind 8-0, the Zags outscored the Bears 44-20 over the next 30 minutes to coast to the victory. They won the rebound battle 45-37, and recorded eight steals.
Jabrik Banks had 18 points for Northern Colorado.
Gonzaga led 37-24 at halftime and then outscored the Bears 11-4 at the start of the second half for a 48-28 lead with 14 minutes left. The Bears did not threaten again.
Women
LARAMIE — Hanna Zavecz scored 15 points and Aubrey Vandiver added 13 to lead No. 24 Wyoming to a 68-37 victory over Northern Colorado.
Jodi Bolerjack had 11 points for the Cowgirls (10-1).
Danielle Hagen led Northern Colorado (5-5) with eight points.
Wyoming, which opened up an early 15-7 lead, went on a 15-4 run to end the first quarter ahead 33-19. The Cowgirls outscored the Bears 26-4 to open the second half.
They took a 59-23 lead before coach Joe Legerski sat Zavecz the final 10 minutes of the game. The Bears turned over the ball 28 times compared with 14 times by the Cowgirls.
No. 2 Connecticut 97, South Carolina 39
STORRS, Conn. — Tina Charles had 23 points and 10 rebounds, but the Huskies (8-0) lost starting forward Kalana Greene to what team officials called a severe knee injury in the first half.
