Sports Braden Huff scored 18 factors and Gonzaga avenged two usual-season losses to Saint Mary’s, beating the nineteenth-ranked Gaels 58-51 in the West Wing Convention Match championship Tuesday evening.
The Bulldogs (25-8) secured the WCC’s computerized mutter to the NCAA Match, even if both teams had been safely in the sphere no topic the end result.
They bought some measure of revenge for shedding to the Gaels in final twelve months’s title sport, which ended Gonzaga’s shuffle of four convention championships and 10 of 11. Gonzaga additionally extended its nationwide document to 18 consecutive 25-opt up seasons.
Saint Mary’s (28-5) had its seven-sport successful drag stopped. The Gaels additionally had won 17 of 18 games.
Khalif Battle scored 14 factors for the Zags, Graham Ike added 11 and Ryan Nembhard had 10.
Mitchell Saxen led Saint Mary’s with 20 factors but scored easiest six after halftime. Two-time WCC Participant of the Year Augustas Marciulionis performed with 12 factors.
Saint Mary’s change into attempting to alter into the first team since San Diego in 1996-97 to beat Gonzaga three cases in a season. But Gonzaga entered the game with the elevated Kenpom rating, ninth to twenty second for the Gaels, and change into a 3.5-level favourite at BetMGM Sportsbook.
[Related: Mike DeCourcy latest bracket NCAA Tournament projections ]
Takeaways Gonzaga: The Bulldogs committed ethical four turnovers while forcing 18 that included two shot-clock violations in the closing minutes.
Saint Mary’s: Dominating the boards is a key motive the Gaels won the usual-season title, and their 43-28 advantage stored them aggressive.
Key second Marciulionis’ layup with 15:09 left brought Saint Mary’s within a level, however the Gaels went the following 7:36 with out a field purpose as Gonzaga built a forty eight-42 lead.
Key stats The teams blended to shoot 1-of-31 on 3-pointers, with Saint Mary’s going 0-for-16.
Up next Both teams will uncover their NCAA Match seeds and destinations on Sunday.
Reporting by The Related Press.
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