No. 1 Gonzaga wins 20th straight, 69-55 over Saint Mary's
AP
Mar 03, 2019
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Josh Perkins scored 19 points and Brandon Clarke sparked a big second-half run with strong play on both ends of the court to help No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs wrap up a perfect conference regular season with a 69-55 victory over Saint Mary's Gaels on Saturday night.
Clarke had six points during the game-changing 17-0 spurt in the second half that sent the Bulldogs (29-2, 16-0 West Coast Conference) to another lopsided win, extending the nation's longest winning streak to 20 games.
Clarke also had three blocks during that stretch and influenced several others as Gonzaga proved to be far too tough for its fiercest conference rival and sealed its fifth perfect conference record in the regular season.
Jordan Ford scored 19 points to lead the Gaels (20-11, 11-5). They went nearly eight minutes without scoring in the second half.
Saint Mary's cut the deficit to 47-44 when Tanner Krebbs scored on a layup with 12:07 to play. By the time the Gaels fell behind by 20 points before scoring again on a basket by Jock Perry with 4:21 remaining.
Rui Hachimura had 17 points for the Bulldogs and Clarke finished with 15 points and four blocked shots.
Gonzaga broke out to an 11-2 lead early to silence the overflow crowd before the Gaels responded by making seven of their next eight shots to take a 21-19 lead on a 3-pointer by Ford.
The Bulldogs led 36-34 at the half after Filip Petrusev hit a fall-away jumper at the buzzer.
THE TAKEAWAY
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs finished the conference season barely getting tested. They outscored the opposition by 27 points per game to set a WCC record and haven't played a game decided by single digits since losing 76-73 at Tennessee on Dec. 9. Gonzaga trailed in the second half in just two games all conference season for a total of 42 seconds. Things figure to get tougher when the NCAA tournament starts later this month.
Saint Mary's: After losing the first meeting by 48 points in the most lopsided loss since coach Randy Bennett arrived at Saint Mary's in 2001, the Gaels looked like they would be overwhelmed again after the slow start. But they responded and stayed close until the second-half drought that featured six missed shots, six turnovers and two missed free throws. The loss dropped Saint Mary's to 1-35 all-time against top 10 teams, with the only win coming against Villanova in the 2010 NCAA tournament.
UP NEXT
Gonzaga: WCC semifinals in Las Vegas on March 11.
Saint Mary's: WCC semifinals in Las Vegas on March 11.
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1st Half
GONZ
Bulldogs
36
SMARY
Gaels
34
Time
Team
Play
Score
20:00
Jumpball received by Saint Mary's
19:40
Malik Fitts missed jump shot, blocked by Brandon Clarke
19:38
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
19:35
Personal foul on Malik Fitts
19:20
Traveling violation turnover on Rui Hachimura
18:52
Jordan Hunter missed hook shot
18:50
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
18:42
Josh Perkins missed jump shot
18:40
Defensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
18:12
Malik Fitts missed jump shot
18:10
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
18:03
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
18:01
Offensive rebound by Corey Kispert
17:56
Shooting foul on Jordan Hunter
17:56
+1
Zach Norvell Jr. made 1st of 2 free throws
1-0
17:56
+1
Zach Norvell Jr. made 2nd of 2 free throws
2-0
17:27
Tommy Kuhse missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:25
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
17:18
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup
4-0
17:00
+2
Jordan Ford made layup
4-2
16:47
Brandon Clarke missed jump shot
16:45
Defensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
16:27
Jordan Ford missed jump shot
16:25
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
16:15
+3
Rui Hachimura made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Josh Perkins
7-2
15:54
Tommy Kuhse missed jump shot
15:52
Offensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
15:51
Personal foul on Brandon Clarke
15:25
Traveling violation turnover on Malik Fitts
15:17
Corey Kispert missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:15
Defensive rebound by Malik Fitts
15:06
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Ford, stolen by Corey Kispert
15:01
+2
Rui Hachimura made dunk, assist by Corey Kispert
9-2
14:35
Matthias Tass missed hook shot
14:33
Offensive rebound by Malik Fitts
14:24
Personal foul on Filip Petrusev
14:05
Traveling violation turnover on Tommy Kuhse
13:48
+2
Josh Perkins made jump shot
11-2
13:25
+2
Matthias Tass made layup, assist by Tommy Kuhse
11-4
13:01
+2
Geno Crandall made layup
13-4
12:35
+2
Matthias Tass made layup
13-6
12:35
Shooting foul on Filip Petrusev
12:35
+1
Matthias Tass made free throw
13-7
12:13
Josh Perkins missed layup
12:11
Defensive rebound by Matthias Tass
12:08
Lost ball turnover on Matthias Tass, stolen by Josh Perkins
12:00
Josh Perkins missed jump shot
11:58
Defensive rebound by Malik Fitts
11:45
+3
Tommy Kuhse made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Jordan Ford
13-10
11:30
Personal foul on Tommy Kuhse
11:20
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot
15-10
10:42
Jordan Hunter missed jump shot
10:40
Offensive rebound by Tanner Krebs
10:32
Personal foul on Geno Crandall
10:18
+2
Tommy Kuhse made layup
15-12
10:07
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
10:05
Defensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
9:51
Shooting foul on Rui Hachimura
9:51
+1
Tanner Krebs made 1st of 2 free throws
15-13
9:51
+1
Tanner Krebs made 2nd of 2 free throws
15-14
9:35
+2
Josh Perkins made layup
17-14
9:17
+2
Jordan Ford made layup
17-16
9:06
Personal foul on Malik Fitts
9:06
Personal foul on Matthias Tass
8:54
Josh Perkins missed jump shot
8:52
Defensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
8:45
+2
Tommy Kuhse made layup
17-18
8:28
+2
Brandon Clarke made jump shot
19-18
8:01
+3
Jordan Ford made 3-pt. jump shot
19-21
7:48
Geno Crandall missed jump shot
7:46
Defensive rebound by Matthias Tass
7:36
Personal foul on Brandon Clarke
7:22
Tommy Kuhse missed layup
7:20
Offensive rebound by Matthias Tass
7:17
+2
Matthias Tass made layup
19-23
6:47
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:45
Defensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
6:20
Matthias Tass missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:18
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
6:09
Personal foul on Tanner Krebs
6:01
+2
Josh Perkins made layup
21-23
6:01
Shooting foul on Tommy Kuhse
6:01
+1
Josh Perkins made free throw
22-23
5:40
+3
Jordan Ford made 3-pt. jump shot
22-26
5:17
+2
Rui Hachimura made dunk, assist by Jeremy Jones
24-26
4:50
Jordan Ford missed jump shot
4:48
Defensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
4:41
Zach Norvell Jr. missed layup
4:39
Defensive rebound by Jordan Ford
4:22
Jordan Ford missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:20
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
4:03
Bad pass turnover on Corey Kispert, stolen by Jordan Ford
3:55
Jordan Ford missed layup, blocked by Zach Norvell Jr.
3:53
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
3:45
+2
Rui Hachimura made layup
26-26
3:19
Tommy Kuhse missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:17
Defensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
3:04
+2
Josh Perkins made jump shot
28-26
2:35
+3
Tanner Krebs made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Matthias Tass
28-29
2:13
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot
30-29
1:52
Lost ball turnover on Matthias Tass, stolen by Jeremy Jones
1:46
+2
Corey Kispert made layup, assist by Josh Perkins
32-29
1:20
+2
Tanner Krebs made layup
32-31
1:03
Offensive foul on Rui Hachimura
1:03
Turnover on Rui Hachimura
47.0
Tanner Krebs missed layup, blocked by Jeremy Jones
45.0
Defensive rebound by Josh Perkins
40.0
Personal foul on Tanner Krebs
40.0
+1
Josh Perkins made 1st of 2 free throws
33-31
40.0
+1
Josh Perkins made 2nd of 2 free throws
34-31
22.0
+3
Jordan Ford made 3-pt. jump shot
34-34
1.0
+2
Filip Petrusev made jump shot, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
36-34
1.0
+2
Filip Petrusev made jump shot, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
36-34
2nd Half
GONZ
Bulldogs
33
SMARY
Gaels
21
Time
Team
Play
Score
19:51
+2
Josh Perkins made jump shot
38-34
19:20
Jordan Hunter missed jump shot
19:18
Offensive rebound by Malik Fitts
19:14
+2
Malik Fitts made layup
38-36
19:07
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
40-36
18:43
+2
Jordan Hunter made hook shot
40-38
18:23
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
18:21
Defensive rebound by Tommy Kuhse
18:10
Jordan Ford missed jump shot
18:08
Defensive rebound by Josh Perkins
17:58
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
17:56
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
17:41
+2
Rui Hachimura made jump shot
42-38
17:13
Personal foul on Zach Norvell Jr.
17:13
Bad pass turnover on Tommy Kuhse, stolen by Rui Hachimura
17:10
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Rui Hachimura
44-38
16:33
+2
Tommy Kuhse made layup
44-40
16:21
+2
Josh Perkins made layup
46-40
16:01
Malik Fitts missed jump shot
15:59
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
15:54
Shooting foul on Matthias Tass
15:54
Brandon Clarke missed 1st of 2 free throws
15:54
+1
Brandon Clarke made 2nd of 2 free throws
47-40
15:31
Malik Fitts missed jump shot
15:29
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
15:20
Corey Kispert missed 3-pt. jump shot
15:18
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
15:06
Lost ball turnover on Corey Kispert, stolen by Malik Fitts
14:42
Matthias Tass missed hook shot
14:40
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
14:40
Personal foul on Malik Fitts
14:27
Brandon Clarke missed layup
14:25
Defensive rebound by Dan Fotu
14:20
Jordan Ford missed 3-pt. jump shot
14:18
Offensive rebound by Saint Mary's
14:20
Personal foul on Corey Kispert
14:16
+2
Jordan Ford made driving layup
47-42
14:06
Zach Norvell Jr. missed layup
14:04
Defensive rebound by Tanner Krebs
13:59
Jordan Ford missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
13:57
Defensive rebound by Corey Kispert
13:53
Personal foul on Jordan Ford
13:33
Brandon Clarke missed 3-pt. jump shot
13:31
Defensive rebound by Jordan Ford
13:20
Jordan Ford missed layup, blocked by Brandon Clarke
13:18
Offensive rebound by Saint Mary's
13:06
Tommy Kuhse missed jump shot
13:04
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
12:59
Traveling violation turnover on Rui Hachimura
12:50
Tommy Kuhse missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:48
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
12:38
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
12:36
Defensive rebound by Jordan Hunter
12:22
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Hunter, stolen by Rui Hachimura
12:12
Lost ball turnover on Geno Crandall, stolen by Jordan Hunter
12:02
+2
Tanner Krebs made layup, assist by Jordan Hunter
47-44
11:46
+2
Zach Norvell Jr. made jump shot
49-44
11:18
Jordan Ford missed 3-pt. jump shot
11:16
Defensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
11:06
+2
Josh Perkins made layup
51-44
10:35
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Hunter, stolen by Josh Perkins
10:30
+2
Zach Norvell Jr. made layup, assist by Brandon Clarke
53-44
10:13
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Hunter, stolen by Jeremy Jones
10:09
Shooting foul on Tanner Krebs
10:04
+2
Brandon Clarke made layup
55-44
9:39
Matthias Tass missed layup
9:37
Offensive rebound by Malik Fitts
9:37
Tanner Krebs missed 3-pt. jump shot
9:37
Offensive rebound by Matthias Tass
9:37
Personal foul on Filip Petrusev
9:28
Shooting foul on Filip Petrusev
9:28
Matthias Tass missed 1st of 2 free throws
9:28
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
9:28
Matthias Tass missed 2nd of 2 free throws
9:28
Defensive rebound by Zach Norvell Jr.
9:11
Lost ball turnover on Brandon Clarke, stolen by Jordan Ford
9:02
Bad pass turnover on Jordan Ford, stolen by Brandon Clarke
8:50
+3
Geno Crandall made 3-pt. jump shot, assist by Zach Norvell Jr.
58-44
8:26
Bad pass turnover on Malik Fitts
8:19
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Geno Crandall
60-44
7:50
Tanner Krebs missed layup
7:48
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
7:22
+2
Brandon Clarke made dunk, assist by Jeremy Jones
62-44
6:59
Malik Fitts missed hook shot
6:57
Defensive rebound by Rui Hachimura
6:43
Zach Norvell Jr. missed 3-pt. jump shot
6:41
Defensive rebound by Matthias Tass
6:14
Lost ball turnover on Tanner Krebs, stolen by Zach Norvell Jr.
5:49
Shooting foul on Matthias Tass
5:49
+1
Rui Hachimura made 1st of 2 free throws
63-44
5:49
+1
Rui Hachimura made 2nd of 2 free throws
64-44
5:20
Jordan Ford missed jump shot, blocked by Brandon Clarke
5:18
Offensive rebound by Jordan Ford
5:18
Shot clock violation turnover on Saint Mary's
5:02
Rui Hachimura missed jump shot
5:00
Offensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
4:42
Rui Hachimura missed 3-pt. jump shot
4:40
Defensive rebound by Tommy Kuhse
4:22
+2
Jock Perry made hook shot
64-46
4:07
Personal foul on Tanner Krebs
4:07
Josh Perkins missed 3-pt. jump shot
3:55
Offensive rebound by Brandon Clarke
3:44
Geno Crandall missed dunk, blocked by Jock Perry
3:42
Offensive rebound by Gonzaga
3:20
Josh Perkins missed jump shot
3:18
Defensive rebound by Tanner Krebs
3:07
Personal foul on Geno Crandall
2:49
Matthias Tass missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:47
Defensive rebound by Jeremy Jones
2:22
Jeremy Jones missed 3-pt. jump shot
2:20
Defensive rebound by Saint Mary's
1:53
+2
Jordan Ford made layup
64-48
1:24
Bad pass turnover on Jeremy Jones, stolen by Malik Fitts
1:14
+2
Jordan Ford made layup
64-50
52.0
Lost ball turnover on Josh Perkins, stolen by Tommy Kuhse