Graham Ike delivered a standout performance with 27 points and 10 rebounds, while Khalif Battle contributed 21 points, helping Gonzaga secure a place in their 28th consecutive West Coast Conference Tournament final. The semifinals saw the Bulldogs overpower San Francisco with an 85-76 victory at Orleans Arena on Monday night. This win propels the second-seeded Gonzaga (24-8) into a matchup against top-seeded and 19th-ranked Saint Mary’s in the tournament championship on Tuesday, with an automatic NCAA Tournament berth at stake. Earlier, the Gaels had secured their spot by defeating Pepperdine 74-59. Gonzaga continued their dominance over the third-seeded Dons (24-9), extending their winning streak in head-to-head clashes to 33 games, despite Saint Mary’s emerging victorious in both regular-season encounters against the Bulldogs.
Ryan Beasley paced the first half for San Francisco, scoring 10 points and netting a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give his team a 37-35 advantage. Meanwhile, Gonzaga’s Ike added 10 first-half points, with Michael Ajayi making a significant impact off the bench, scoring nine points and pulling down seven rebounds, matching Ike’s performance on the boards.
The Bulldogs took control early in the second half, with Ike responsible for the first two baskets, ensuring Gonzaga never relinquished the lead again. San Francisco did battle back within a single point on three occasions, the last being 62-61 after a Saba Gigiberia basket with just over seven minutes to play. However, Gonzaga responded as Ike completed a three-point play followed by an effective layup, allowing the Bulldogs to widen the gap from there.
Malik Thomas led the Dons with an impressive showing, scoring 27 points, supported by eight rebounds, and five successful 3-pointer shots. Beasley again showcased his abilities with 13 points and five assists, while Wang chipped in with 10 points.
The last time Saint Mary’s faced San Francisco in the championship was in 1998, where the Dons triumphed over the Bulldogs 80-67. Before then, the Gaels had bested the Dons 66-59 back in 1997, the last occasion when Gonzaga was absent from the final stage. Since 1995, Gonzaga is aiming to capture its 22nd tournament title, a testament to their enduring success in the conference.
