Gonzaga gets payback against Saint Mary’s, triumphing 58-51 in the West Coast Conference Tournament championship. Braden Huff led the Bulldogs with 18 points, helping them avenge two regular-season losses to the 19th-ranked Gaels on Tuesday night.
With this victory, the Bulldogs (25-8) clinched the WCC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, although both teams were already expected to participate regardless of the game’s outcome.
This win served as a measure of revenge for Gonzaga, who faced defeat against the Gaels in last year’s title game, which halted their streak of four consecutive conference championships and 10 out of 11. Additionally, Gonzaga extended its remarkable record to 18 straight seasons with at least 25 wins.
Saint Mary’s (28-5) saw its impressive seven-game winning streak come to an end, having previously won 17 of their last 18 games.
Khalif Battle contributed 14 points for the Bulldogs, while Graham Ike added 11 points and Ryan Nembhard chipped in with 10.
Mitchell Saxen was the standout for Saint Mary’s, scoring 20 points, but he struggled in the second half, managing only six. Two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis finished with 12 points.
Saint Mary’s aimed to become the first team since San Diego in the 1996-97 season to defeat Gonzaga three times in a single season. However, Gonzaga held a higher KenPom rating, ranking ninth compared to the Gaels’ 22nd, and entered the game as a 3.5-point favorite according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
[Related: Mike DeCourcy latest bracket NCAA Tournament projections]
Takeaways
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs displayed impressive ball control, committing only four turnovers while forcing 18 from Saint Mary’s, which included two shot-clock violations during the critical moments of the game.
Saint Mary’s: The Gaels’ dominance on the boards was a key factor in their regular-season title win, and their 43-28 rebounding advantage kept them competitive throughout the match.
Key moment
A pivotal moment occurred when Marciulionis made a layup with 15:09 left, narrowing the gap to just one point. However, the Gaels struggled to find the basket for the next 7:36, allowing Gonzaga to extend its lead to 48-42.
Key stats
The shooting performance was notably poor, with both teams combining to hit only 1-of-31 from beyond the arc, and Saint Mary’s finishing 0-for-16 on three-point attempts.
Up next
Both teams will eagerly await their NCAA Tournament seeds and destinations, which will be announced on Sunday.
