Behind Wiltjer’s 23, Gonzaga moves on with 86-76 win over North Dakota State

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Players on Gonzaga\'s bench cheer a 3-point basket by the team against North Dakota State during the first half of an NCAA tournament college basketball game in the Round of 64 in Seattle, Friday, March 20, 2015. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

SEATTLE – For Gonzaga, it’s on to the next round. For North Dakota State, it’s back to the market.

Canadian international Kyle Wiltjer scored 23 points Friday night to lift the second-seeded Bulldogs to an 86-76 victory over the team that lifts weights in an out-of-commission grocery store.

Wiltjer was born in Portland, Ore., but holds dual citizenship. Kevin Pangos of Holland Landing, Ont., added 18 points.

The Zags (33-2) will play Iowa on Sunday to try to make the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009.

Dexter Werner had a career-high 22 points for North Dakota State.

The 15th-seeded Bison (23-10), upset winners over Oklahoma as a 12 seed last year, couldn’t muster a repeat. Still, it was quite a season for a team that lost three starters and its head coach after last year and had to improvise on things like weight rooms and practice space while their facilities are being overhauled.

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