In a West Coast Conference thriller that reshuffled NCAA basketball standings, Saint Mary's Gaels emerged victorious against Gonzaga Bulldogs 74-67 Saturday night. Sixth man Mikey Lewis electrified the court with 18 points, sinking 5 three-pointers in a performance that left Gonzaga's defense scrambling.
Key contributors for Saint Mary's (25-4, 15-1 WCC) included:
- Mitchell Saxen's dominant 16-point, 9-rebound double threat
- Luke Barrett's precision 14-point showcase (6/10 FG)
- Collective 52.7% shooting from beyond the arc
Gonzaga (21-8, 12-4) saw Graham Ike's 19-point effort go wasted as their five-game win streak crumbled. Nolan Hickman's defensive prowess with two blocks couldn't contain Saint Mary's second-half surge, sealed by Saxen's momentum-shifting layup at 12:22 remaining.
The Gaels' strategic bench utilization proved decisive, outscoring Gonzaga's reserves 23-11. This victory solidifies Saint Mary's position atop the West Coast Conference while raising questions about Gonzaga's tournament readiness.
With March Madness looming, both teams face critical matchups:
Thursday's road game against Loyola Marymount will test Saint Mary's consistency, while Gonzaga must regroup quickly before facing Santa Clara Tuesday,noted ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla.