Lauri Markkanen scored 22 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 20 points, helping No. 5 Gonzaga’s guards control the game on the way to an 80-55 victory over Merrimack on Saturday.
The Bulldogs (3-0) trailed 17-16 with 3:16 left in the first half, but the trio of Markkanen, DiVincenzo and Rui Hachimura combined to score the next 14 points for Gonzaga, leading to a 37-21 halftime lead.
JoJo Zamora led Merrimack (1-2) with 14 points.
MAAC
Stony Brook 76, Iona 56
Corey Sanders scored 13 points and Nikolas Halvorsen added 12, helping Stony Brook win its opener at home.
In the backcourt, Stony Brook’s Patrick Williams and Arkeel Newsome were sensational. Williams finished with 10 points and 12 assists. Newsome finished with 16 points and six assists.
Stony Brook (2-0) used a 10-2 run to end the first half to take a 31-22 lead into the locker room.
James Miller scored 16 points and hit three 3-pointers for Iona (0-3).
Also on Saturday, Saint Peter’s (0-2) opened its season by beating Manhattan (0-3) 80-74.