Second-Half Surge Turns the Tide (Image Credits: Pexels)
Las Vegas – No. 12 Gonzaga overcame an early deficit to defeat Santa Clara 79-68 on Tuesday at Orleans Arena, securing the West Coast Conference men’s basketball tournament championship in the Bulldogs’ last appearance before joining the Pac-12 next season.[1][2]
Second-Half Surge Turns the Tide
Santa Clara controlled much of the first half, jumping to a 9-1 lead and holding a 33-29 advantage at halftime after a late 7-0 run of their own.[3] The Broncos extended their edge to 52-50 midway through the second half. Gonzaga responded with seven straight points to seize the lead for good at 57-52 with under nine minutes remaining.
The Bulldogs outscored Santa Clara 50-35 after the break, shooting 58.6 percent from the field in that span while dominating transition with a 27-0 fast-break advantage.[2] Despite 13 misses at the free-throw line and several turnovers, Gonzaga converted defensive stops into easy buckets. A final 9-2 run in the closing minute sealed the 11-point victory and the automatic NCAA Tournament bid.
Balanced Attack Powers Bulldogs’ Offense
Mario Saint-Supéry led Gonzaga with 21 points, including six three-pointers and 15 in the second half. Tyon Grant-Foster added 20 points, while Graham Ike finished with 15 on perfect 7-for-7 shooting and earned tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.[1] Freshman Davis Fogle contributed 13 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
| Gonzaga Top Scorers | Points | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Mario Saint-Supéry | 21 | 6 threes |
| Tyon Grant-Foster | 20 | 12 in 2nd half |
| Graham Ike | 15 | 7-7 FG, MOP |
| Davis Fogle | 13 | 8 rebounds |
The Bulldogs shot 52.8 percent overall with 24 assists on 28 field goals. All-tournament honors went to Ike, Grant-Foster, and Saint-Supéry from Gonzaga.[2]
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Santa Clara Battles but Can’t Hold Lead
Christian Hammond paced the Broncos with a game-high 24 points. Allen Graves added 11 points and nine rebounds, while Sash Gavalyugov struggled with eight points on 3-for-13 shooting.[4] Santa Clara grabbed 20 offensive rebounds but shot just 38 percent from the field and 9-for-34 from three-point range.
The third-seeded Broncos built leads through aggressive play and timely threes from Jake Ensminger and Elijah Mahi. Graves and Gavalyugov joined the all-tournament team for their efforts across the event. Santa Clara now awaits an at-large NCAA bid after finishing 26-8 overall and 15-3 in conference play.[3]
Dominance Defined Gonzaga’s WCC Tenure
This marked Gonzaga’s sixth WCC tournament title in seven years and 12th in the last 14, capping a 30-3 season—their ninth with 30 wins.[4] The Bulldogs extended their streak to 27 straight NCAA appearances and 29 consecutive conference tournament championship games.
Coach Mark Few reflected on the program’s focus: “The national championship’s going to be the standard that we’re aiming for. But we’ve always talked about taking care of business along the way.”[1] Graham Ike emphasized the significance: “It’s a special feeling to go out the right way.”[4] Few praised Santa Clara as “an NCAA Tournament team” with size and guard play.
Key Takeaways
- Gonzaga’s transition game proved decisive, outscoring Santa Clara 27-0 on fast breaks.
- The Bulldogs improved to 30-3, locking in their 27th straight NCAA bid.
- Pac-12 awaits, featuring matchups with San Diego State and Utah State.
Gonzaga departs the WCC as champions, ready to chase national contention in a rebuilt conference. What do you think of the Bulldogs’ next chapter? Tell us in the comments.
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