Gonzaga Outplays Saint Mary's to Claim WCC Title

LAS VEGAS – Braden Huff led the charge with 18 points as Gonzaga reversed past losses to Saint Mary’s by clinching a 58-51 victory over the 19th-ranked Gaels in the West Coast Conference tournament championship on Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs (25-8) earned the WCC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, a spot both teams were assured of regardless of the night’s result. This win provided Gonzaga a sweet taste of revenge after last year’s defeat against the Gaels, which interrupted Gonzaga’s streak of four consecutive conference championships and 10 out of 11. Extending their remarkable streak, Gonzaga has now hit the 25-win mark for 18 straight seasons, setting a national record.

Meanwhile, Saint Mary’s (28-5) saw its impressive seven-game victory run come to an unceremonious end. The Gaels faltered at the 3-point line, hitting an unexpected roadblock from downtown. ESPN Research notes that this game marked the first time in 787 contests under coach Randy Bennett that Saint Mary’s failed to land a single 3-pointer, ending 0-16.

Khalif Battle was integral for the Zags with 14 points, while Graham Ike and Ryan Nembhard contributed 11 and 10 points respectively.

Mitchell Saxen was the standout for Saint Mary’s, tallying 20 points but only adding six in the second half. Augustas Marciulionis, a two-time WCC Player of the Year, wrapped up the game with 12 points.

Saint Mary’s aimed to match a rare feat: no team since San Diego in the 1996-97 season has managed to defeat Gonzaga thrice in a single season. Yet, Gonzaga entered the clash with a superior Kenpom rating, sitting at ninth compared to the Gaels at 22nd, and was favored by 3.5 points according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

The Bulldogs played with the confidence of favorites, maintaining discipline with only four turnovers, while forcing Saint Mary’s into 18 turnovers — including two critical shot-clock violations in the dying minutes, returning to their winning ways.

As reported by ESPN Research, Gonzaga has now secured the WCC Tournament title 22 times, with Coach Mark Few at the helm for 20 of those victories. In Division I history, only Kentucky (32), Duke (27), and North Carolina (26) surpass Gonzaga in conference tournament wins.

Both teams eagerly await their NCAA Tournament seedings and destinations, which will be announced on Sunday.