LAS VEGAS — The Gonzaga Bulldogs are back on top! In a gritty defensive battle, Gonzaga avenged two regular-season losses to No. 19 Saint Mary’s, defeating the Gaels 58-51 in the West Coast Conference (WCC) tournament championship Tuesday night. With the win, the Bulldogs (25-8) clinched the WCC’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, though both teams were already locks for the Big Dance.
This victory was especially sweet for Gonzaga, who fell to Saint Mary’s in last year’s title game, snapping their streak of four consecutive WCC championships. The Bulldogs also extended their remarkable national record of 18 straight seasons with 25 or more wins.
Game Highlights
– Braden Huff led the way for Gonzaga with 18 points, while Khalif Battle added 14, Graham Ike contributed 11, and Ryan Nembhard chipped in 10.
– Mitchell Saxen paced Saint Mary’s with 20 points, but he was held to just 6 points in the second half. Two-time WCC Player of the Year Augustas Marciulionis finished with 12 points.
– Saint Mary’s (28-5) had their seven-game winning streak snapped and suffered an uncharacteristic cold streak from beyond the arc, going 0-for-16 from 3-point range. According to ESPN Research, it was the first time in 787 games under head coach Randy Bennett that the Gaels failed to hit a single three-pointer.
Defensive Dominance
Gonzaga’s defense was the difference-maker, forcing 18 turnovers—including two critical shot-clock violations in the closing minutes—while committing just four turnovers of their own. The Bulldogs’ ability to disrupt Saint Mary’s rhythm and capitalize on mistakes proved decisive in a hard-fought contest.
Historic Program Success
With this win, Gonzaga added to its storied legacy in the WCC. According to ESPN Research, the Bulldogs have now won the conference tournament 22 times, including 20 titles under head coach Mark Few. Only Kentucky (32), Duke (27), and North Carolina (26) have won more Division I conference tournaments.
What’s Next?
Both Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s will await their NCAA tournament seeding and destinations, which will be revealed on Selection Sunday. While the Gaels fell short in their quest to become the first team since San Diego in 1996-97 to beat Gonzaga three times in a season, they remain a formidable opponent heading into March Madness.
For Gonzaga, this victory reaffirms their status as one of college basketball’s elite programs and sets the stage for another deep postseason run.
Let the madness begin! 🏀