SPOKANE, Wash. | Jacoby Ross paced three players in double figures for Alabama State, but it wasn't enough for the Hornets as they fell 95-64 to No. 7/8 Gonzaga in the season opener Tuesday night in front of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

Ross led Alabama State (0-1) with 16 points, finishing the night 6-of-7 from the floor and 4-of-5 from beyond the arc. He was joined in double figures by Brandon Battle with 10 points, and Tobi Ewuosho added 10 points and five rebounds off the bench for the Hornets.

However, Gonzaga (0-1) countered with five players in double figures led by Corey Kispert with a game-high 28 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor, and 5-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc. He also added three assists and a pair of steals in the Zags win. He was joined in double figures by Filip Petrusev with 15 points and six rebounds, while Admon Gilder added 12.

Ryan Woolridge and Drew Timme each added 11 for Gonzaga.

Alabama State ended the night shooting 49.0 (24-of-49) percent from the floor and 56.3 (9-of-16) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot just 58.3 (7-of-12) percent from the free throw line, while grabbing 25 rebounds. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs shot 57.6 (34-of-56) percent from the floor and 50.0 (10-of-20) percent from beyond the arc. They also shot 63.0 (17-of-27) percent from the free throw line, while forcing Alabama State into 21 turnovers.

The Hornets kept the game close early in the first half, trailing by just three at the first media timeout. After a Battle basket that trimmed the Gonzaga lead to 9-8 with 15:13 to play in the opening half, the Bulldogs went on 13-0 run that pushed their lead to 22-8 over the next four minutes before Alabama State ended the run on a Mike Stone layup.

From there, Alabama State battled back to keep the game within 12 at the break with a Battle basket to trim the lead to 42-30. The Hornets were able to pull to within nine a pair of times in the second half on Ross three-pointers, however, a 15-0 run by Gonzaga over a span of four minutes allowed them to pull away from Alabama State.

The Hornets return to action Sunday afternoon on the road at Missouri State, with tip set for 2 pm in Springfield (Mo.). The game will be carried by the Hornet Sports Network beginning with pregame at 1:30 pm.

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