The Gonzaga Bulldogs faced a disappointing end to their regular season, suffering a 70-59 defeat against Saint Mary”s on Saturday. After a strong first half, where Mark Few“s team led 36-29, the game took a turn in the second half.
Saint Mary”s emerged from halftime with an explosive 8-0 run and maintained momentum, ultimately securing a share of the West Coast Conference (WCC) regular season title. This loss marked Gonzaga”s third of the season, as sophomore guard Mikey Lewis spearheaded the Gaels” attack with a season-high 31 points, primarily scored during crucial moments in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.
The outcome resulted in both Gonzaga and Saint Mary”s sharing the regular season championship for the fourth time. However, Gonzaga will claim the No. 1 seed in the upcoming WCC Tournament, thanks to a better record against the third-place team, Santa Clara, which serves as the tiebreaker.
With nine days off before their next game on March 9, fans will be eager to see if Jalen Warley can recover from a quad contusion, as his presence could have significantly impacted Saturday”s game.
Analyzing Gonzaga”s performance reveals several key factors contributing to their loss. First, Saint Mary”s has established itself as one of the top rebounding teams nationally, excelling in both offensive and defensive rebounding. In contrast, Gonzaga has struggled on the offensive glass, particularly in recent weeks without Braden Huff. This discrepancy was evident, as Saint Mary”s capitalized on second-chance opportunities, finishing with 15 offensive rebounds compared to Gonzaga”s seven. This lack of offensive rebounds proved detrimental, especially against a team like Saint Mary”s that eats up the shot clock.
Defensively, Gonzaga performed well around the rim but allowed the Gaels too many open three-point shots. Saint Mary”s took full advantage, shooting an impressive 48 percent from beyond the arc. Players like Matas Juvenas hit crucial shots early, while Lewis and Joshua Dent found their rhythm in the second half, further burying the Bulldogs.
Additionally, Ike was instrumental for Gonzaga in the first half, contributing 13 points and effectively defending against Saint Mary”s tall duo of Harry Wessels and Andrew McKeever. Unfortunately, he was limited to just four points in the second half before fouling out with four minutes left, demonstrating how critical his performance is to the team”s success.
As Gonzaga prepares for the NCAA Tournament, the need for a healthy lineup, particularly the return of Huff and Warley, becomes increasingly urgent. The team”s potential to advance depends heavily on their ability to secure rebounds and improve perimeter defense.
