- Gonzaga secures direct semifinal berth in WCC Tournament
- Ryan Nembhard joins rare back-to-back 15-assist club
- Bulldogs shoot 54% from field in crucial road win
Gonzaga basketball cemented its postseason positioning with a commanding 20-point victory against conference rival San Francisco on Saturday night. The Bulldogs' offensive machine fired on all cylinders, with four players scoring double figures in a game that saw them lead for over 36 minutes of playtime.
Ryan Nembhard continued his historic season by matching his career-best 15 assists for the second consecutive game. The senior playmaker now boasts an NCAA-leading 9.8 assists per game, cementing his status as the nation's premier distributor. His performance marked the first back-to-back 15-assist games against Division I opponents since November 2011.
Ben Gregg emerged as the offensive catalyst, scoring 9 of Gonzaga's first 17 points during a decisive first-half run. The junior forward's 23-point effort came on efficient 8-of-12 shooting, including multiple momentum-shifting baskets in the paint. This continues Gonzaga's three-year trend of having different leading scorers in critical conference games.
West Coast basketball analysts note the growing importance of tournament seeding in the WCC's Las Vegas era. Since the event moved to Nevada in 2020, teams earning top-two seeds have reached the championship game 80% of the time. The conference tournament now generates over $12 million in local economic impact annually, with Gonzaga's national following driving ticket sales.
San Francisco's Marcus Williams delivered an impressive 28-point performance, but the Dons couldn't overcome Gonzaga's 52% three-point shooting. The loss drops USF to third seed, forcing them to play an extra tournament game. Historical data shows third seeds have only reached the WCC final twice in the past decade.
With March Madness implications looming, Gonzaga's balanced attack suggests dangerous tournament potential. The Bulldogs have now scored 80+ points in 7 consecutive games, a streak unmatched since their 2021 national runner-up campaign. Their semifinal berth allows crucial rest days before facing the winner of Portland-Santa Clara.