No. 23 Gonzaga snaps No. 17 Saint Mary's 16-game winning streak with 70-57 victory
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) Graham Ike scored 24 points and No. 23 Gonzaga bolstered its NCAA Tournament hopes by handing No. 17 Saint Mary's its first conference loss of the season, 70-57 on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs (24-6, 14-2 West Coast Conference) have won eight straight games since losing at home to the Gaels (24-7, 15-1) on Feb. 3, with three of them being Quad 1 wins.
“We’re playing our best basketball. It’s March and that’s a great sign,” coach Mark Few said. “To come into this environment, against this team - I have a massive amount of respect for just how they compete and how prepared they are and how they play together. It’s a heck of a win.”
Ike has led the way during Gonzaga's recent run, becoming the first Zags player to score at least 20 points in seven consecutive games since Adam Morrison in 2005-06.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Ike said. “Credit to my guys. I wouldn’t be here without them. It’s really a team award. We’re just going to keep getting better. That’s all that matters to us.”
He had plenty of help against Saint Mary's: Ryan Nembhard added 20 points and 10 assists, while Ben Gregg scored 12.
Aidan Mahaney had 16 points and Mitchell Saxen added 13 for the Gaels, who came in with the nation's longest winning streak at 16 games.
“They executed offensively at a way higher level than we did," coach Randy Bennett said. "That’s a combination of us not being very good offensively and not very good defensively.”
There was much more on the line in this game for the Bulldogs than the Gaels, who clinched their first outright conference title since 2012 with a win at Pepperdine on Thursday night.
Gonzaga played like the hungrier team, using a 14-0 run to open a 24-12 lead midway through the first half. The Bulldogs made nine straight shots against the nation's second-stingiest scoring defense as Nembhard repeatedly got to the basket and Ike dominated in the post to build a 44-28 halftime advantage.
Saint Mary's tried to mount a push in the second half, scoring 10 consecutive points early to get the deficit down to single digits. But Gonzaga answered every charge and was never seriously threatened in the second half.
BIG PICTURE
Gonzaga: The Bulldogs' streak of 24 straight NCAA Tournament berths was in jeopardy before this surge, but Gonzaga heads into the WCC Tournament with a good chance of receiving an at-large bid if necessary.
“I don’t follow that stuff because it’s just amateurs,” Few said. “Amateur hour. I’m 60 now, so I don’t have to deal with that stuff. I love these guys, and I’ll help them. We’re going to hopefully get better and play better next week. Play my pickleball and get out with my dogs and call it good.”
Saint Mary's: The Gaels relied on their defense and protecting the ball during the winning streak. But they allowed Gonzaga to shoot 64% in the first half, and their 13 turnovers were their most since the WCC opener.
UP NEXT
Gonzaga: WCC semifinals on March 11 in Las Vegas.
Saint Mary's: WCC semifinals on March 11 in Las Vegas.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | (Bulldogs gains possession) | |||
19:43 | Graham Ike misses two point jump shot | |||
19:41 | Aidan Mahaney defensive rebound | |||
19:23 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot | |||
19:21 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
19:01 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
18:59 | Augustas Marciulionis defensive rebound | |||
18:51 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 0-3 | |
18:35 | Ryan Nembhard misses three point jump shot | |||
18:33 | Anton Watson offensive rebound | |||
18:16 | +2 | Anton Watson makes two point jump shot | 2-3 | |
17:55 | Mitchell Saxen turnover (lost ball) | |||
17:39 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
17:37 | Bulldogs offensive rebound | |||
17:34 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
17:32 | Augustas Marciulionis defensive rebound | |||
17:10 | Alex Ducas misses three point jump shot | |||
17:08 | Mason Forbes offensive rebound | |||
17:06 | Mason Forbes misses two point layup | |||
17:04 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
17:00 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 4-3 | |
17:00 | Aidan Mahaney shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul) | |||
17:00 | +1 | Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 5-3 | |
16:37 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Augustas Marciulionis draws the foul) | |||
16:37 | Augustas Marciulionis misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
16:37 | +1 | Augustas Marciulionis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 5-4 | |
16:15 | Graham Ike turnover (bad pass) (Augustas Marciulionis steals) | |||
15:54 | +2 | Mitchell Saxen makes two point jump shot (Alex Ducas assists) | 5-6 | |
15:30 | Graham Ike misses two point jump shot | |||
15:28 | Mitchell Saxen defensive rebound | |||
15:13 | Graham Ike shooting foul (Mitchell Saxen draws the foul) | |||
15:13 | TV timeout | |||
15:13 | +1 | Mitchell Saxen makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 5-7 | |
15:13 | Mitchell Saxen misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
15:13 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
14:52 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot | 7-7 | |
14:52 | Mitchell Saxen shooting foul (Graham Ike draws the foul) | |||
14:52 | +1 | Graham Ike makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 8-7 | |
14:22 | Mason Forbes misses two point jump shot | |||
14:20 | Mason Forbes offensive rebound | |||
14:06 | Mason Forbes turnover (bad pass) | |||
13:42 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists) | 10-7 | |
13:22 | +2 | Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup | 10-9 | |
13:07 | Ben Gregg misses three point jump shot | |||
13:05 | Gaels defensive rebound | |||
12:56 | Aidan Mahaney turnover (bad pass) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
12:55 | Augustas Marciulionis personal foul | |||
12:41 | Nolan Hickman misses two point jump shot | |||
12:39 | Augustas Marciulionis defensive rebound | |||
12:19 | +3 | Luke Barrett makes three point jump shot (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 10-12 | |
12:04 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot | 12-12 | |
11:49 | Alex Ducas misses two point jump shot | |||
11:47 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
11:37 | +2 | Ben Gregg makes two point layup (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 14-12 | |
11:06 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot | |||
11:04 | Ryan Nembhard defensive rebound | |||
11:00 | +3 | Ryan Nembhard makes three point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists) | 17-12 | |
10:40 | Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot | |||
10:38 | Alex Ducas offensive rebound | |||
10:34 | Luke Barrett misses three point jump shot | |||
10:32 | Graham Ike defensive rebound | |||
10:27 | Augustas Marciulionis personal foul | |||
10:27 | TV timeout | |||
10:27 | +1 | Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-12 | |
10:27 | +1 | Ben Gregg makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-12 | |
10:07 | Mitchell Saxen turnover (lost ball) (Anton Watson steals) | |||
10:01 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup | 21-12 | |
9:36 | Augustas Marciulionis turnover (lost ball) (Ryan Nembhard steals) | |||
9:29 | +3 | Dusty Stromer makes three point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists) | 24-12 | |
9:25 | Gaels 30 second timeout | |||
9:12 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 24-15 | |
8:54 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup | 26-15 | |
8:35 | Mason Forbes misses two point layup | |||
8:33 | Gaels offensive rebound | |||
8:21 | Mitchell Saxen misses two point hook shot | |||
8:20 | Augustas Marciulionis offensive rebound | |||
8:20 | TV timeout | |||
8:04 | +2 | Mitchell Saxen makes two point hook shot (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 26-17 | |
7:49 | +3 | Braden Huff makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 29-17 | |
7:25 | +2 | Mason Forbes makes two point dunk (Augustas Marciulionis assists) | 29-19 | |
6:56 | +2 | Braden Huff makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists) | 31-19 | |
6:39 | Chris Howell misses three point jump shot | |||
6:37 | Chris Howell offensive rebound | |||
6:24 | Alex Ducas turnover (bad pass) (Dusty Stromer steals) | |||
6:18 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point jump shot | 33-19 | |
5:56 | Mitchell Saxen turnover (bad pass) (Braden Huff steals) | |||
5:49 | Dusty Stromer misses two point layup | |||
5:47 | Gaels defensive rebound | |||
5:26 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot | |||
5:24 | Ben Gregg defensive rebound | |||
5:11 | +3 | Ben Gregg makes three point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 36-19 | |
5:08 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
4:41 | +2 | Mason Forbes makes two point layup (Luke Barrett assists) | 36-21 | |
4:41 | Ben Gregg shooting foul (Mason Forbes draws the foul) | |||
4:41 | Mason Forbes misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
4:41 | Braden Huff defensive rebound | |||
4:25 | +2 | Ryan Nembhard makes two point layup | 38-21 | |
4:08 | Braden Huff blocks Mason Forbes's two point layup | |||
4:08 | Gaels offensive rebound | |||
4:01 | +2 | Mitchell Saxen makes two point hook shot | 38-23 | |
3:43 | Aidan Mahaney personal foul | |||
3:43 | TV timeout | |||
3:27 | Nolan Hickman misses two point hook shot | |||
3:25 | Augustas Marciulionis defensive rebound | |||
3:03 | Augustas Marciulionis misses two point layup | |||
3:03 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
3:03 | Mitchell Saxen personal foul | |||
2:47 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 40-23 | |
2:22 | Aidan Mahaney misses two point jump shot | |||
2:20 | Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound | |||
2:17 | Mitchell Saxen misses two point layup | |||
2:15 | Luke Barrett offensive rebound | |||
2:08 | Alex Ducas misses two point dunk | |||
2:06 | Dusty Stromer defensive rebound | |||
2:00 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point layup (Nolan Hickman assists) | 42-23 | |
1:42 | +3 | Aidan Mahaney makes three point jump shot (Alex Ducas assists) | 42-26 | |
1:18 | Graham Ike turnover (lost ball) (Augustas Marciulionis steals) | |||
0:59 | Alex Ducas misses two point layup | |||
0:57 | Mitchell Saxen offensive rebound | |||
0:55 | +2 | Mitchell Saxen makes two point layup | 42-28 | |
0:33 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Ryan Nembhard assists) | 44-28 | |
0:08 | Nolan Hickman personal foul | |||
0:02 | Aidan Mahaney misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Bulldogs defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
19:43 | +2 | Graham Ike makes two point jump shot (Nolan Hickman assists) | 46-28 | |
19:26 | +2 | Augustas Marciulionis makes two point layup (Alex Ducas assists) | 46-30 | |
19:06 | Ryan Nembhard misses two point jump shot | |||
19:04 | Alex Ducas defensive rebound | |||
18:53 | +3 | Alex Ducas makes three point jump shot (Mitchell Saxen assists) | 46-33 | |
18:21 | Ryan Nembhard misses two point layup | |||
18:19 | Graham Ike offensive rebound | |||
18:15 | Graham Ike misses two point layup | |||
18:13 | Mason Forbes defensive rebound | |||
18:05 | +2 | Aidan Mahaney makes two point layup | 46-35 | |
17:59 | Bulldogs 30 second timeout | |||
17:59 | TV timeout | |||
17:34 | Anton Watson misses two point jump shot | |||
17:32 | Alex Ducas defensive rebound | |||
17:17 | +3 | Aidan Mahaney makes three point jump shot (Alex Ducas assists) | 46-38 | |
17:01 | +2 |