SEATTLE SPORTS PIT

No. 1 Gonzaga falls to No. 23 Saint Mary’s 67-57 on tough day for Top 10

Feb 26, 2022, 9:45 PM

Saint Mary's guard Alex Ducas, middle, celebrates with fans after Saint Mary's defeated Gonzaga in an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Saint Mary's forward Kyle Bowen (14) celebrates with fans after Saint Mary's defeated Gonzaga in an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Gonzaga coach Mark Few, standing at left, reacts to a call with Chet Holmgren (34), Nolan Hickman (11) and Hunter Sallis (10) during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Gonzaga forward Drew Timme drives to the basket between Saint Mary's forward Matthias Tass, bottom, forward Kyle Bowen (14) and guard Alex Ducas (44) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Saint Mary's coach Randy Bennett gestures to players during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Gonzaga in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Gonzaga coach Mark Few gestures toward officials during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Saint Mary's in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Saint Mary's guard Tommy Kuhse, left, passes the ball while being defended by Gonzaga guard Andrew Nembhard during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Moraga, Calif., Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

MORAGA, Calif. (AP) – Tommy Kuhse had 14 points and six rebounds and No. 23 Saint Mary’s beat No. 1 Gonzaga 67-57 on Saturday night to prevent the Bulldogs from completing another undefeated run in the West Coast Conference.

St. Mary’s 67, Gonzaga 57: Box Score

The top six teams in the AP poll all lost and seven of the top-nine fell Saturday.

Fans poured onto the court at in a wild celebration of the Gaels’ 18th consecutive win at McKeon Pavilion.

Saint Mary’s ended Gonzaga’s 17-game winning streak, beating a No. 1 team for the first time since knocking off the Bulldogs in the 2019 conference tournament title game.

Matthias Tass added 13 points for the Gaels (24-6, 12-3) and made a pivotal block with 1:15 seconds remaining. Kyle Bowman made a pair of clutch 3-pointers after missing his first seven shots.

Rasir Bolton scored 16 points for Gonzaga (24-3, 13-1). Drew Timme had six points and eight rebounds, but shot 2 of 10 for the Bulldogs, who had already clinched the WCC regular-season title.

Saint Mary’s had lost seven straight to its rivals from the Pacific Northwest, including five straight at home, before stunning the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs had beaten the Gaels handily on Spokane two weeks earlier and had won 34 consecutive conference games, 33 by double-digits.

But Saint Mary’s never let Gonzaga get comfortable, leading from start to finish while winning their fourth straight since that loss to the Bulldogs.

Gonzaga trailed by 16 with 13 minutes remaining and got to 57-50 before Bowen buried a 3-pointer. The Bulldogs responded with four points, but Bowen made another 3 and Logan Johnson sank a pair of free throws.

The game drew a packed house at McKeon Pavilion, with scouts from the Warriors, Knicks and Pistons in attendance.

Two nights after thumping San Francisco 89-73, Gonzaga appeared sluggish and out of sync against Saint Mary’s. The Bulldogs shot 31% in the first half and were outscored 17-5 over the final seven minutes before the break.

Timme, who was taunted by Gaels fans before the game as he practiced shooting from midcourt, was smothered by defenders every time he got the ball in the paint. Gonzaga’s leading scorer missed all eight shots he took in the first half, was called for a three-second violation in the key in the second half and nearly got hit with a technical after inadvertently tossing the ball near a referee’s head.

BIG PICTURE

Gonzaga: Timme was a non-factor for most of the game which set the Bulldogs into a big hole they never got out of. The final score was not indicative of how dominant St. Mary’s was. Gonzaga is 0-3 this season when trailing at the half.

Saint Mary’s: Coach Randy Bennett spent the week telling anyone who would listen that he liked his team’s chances. He was rewarded with the Gaels biggest win in more than three years.

UP NEXT

Both teams will get an extended break before playing in the WCC tournament in Las Vegas in March. Gonzaga is the top seed while Saint Mary’s is No. 2. Both will get byes and won’t have to play until the semifinals on March 7.

Chet Holmgren leads balanced effort, No. 1 Gonzaga tops USF 89-73

Seattle Sports Pit

Seattle U Cameron Tyson...

The Associated Press

Seattle U closes on 11-0 run, beats High Point 77-67 for CBI title

Cameron Tyson scored 30 points and made seven 3-pointers, and third-seeded Seattle U beat top-seed High Point 77-67 for the CBI championship.

1 day ago

Eastern Washington University NCAA Tournament...

Anne M. Peterson

Oregon State trails early but wins 73-51 over Eastern Washington

Raegan Beers and Oregon State advanced to the second round of the women’s NCAA Tournament with a 73-51 win over Eastern Washingto

6 days ago

Seattle U Cameron Tyson...

The Associated Press

Seattle U rolls into WAC semis with 81-57 win over Cal Baptist

Cameron Tyson had 18 points in the No. 4 seed Seattle U Redhawks' 81-57 victory against Cal Baptist on Thursday night in the WAC Tournament.

14 days ago

EWU NCAA Tournament womens...

The Associated Press

EWU women win Big Sky title, headed to 1st NCAAs since ’87

The EWU Eagles' record-breaking season continues with the school’s second NCAA berth after a 73-64 win over Northern Arizona in the Big Sky Conference Tournament Championship.

15 days ago

NBA Seattle Sonics All-Star Game Paolo Banchero...

Adam Lewis

Why NBA should bring Seattle Sonics back after dismal All-Star weekend

If the NBA wants to draw attention away from the worst All-Star weekend in recent memory, it should announce a Seattle Sonics return, writes Adam Lewis.

1 month ago

Seattle Seahawks Devon Witherspoon...

Brandon Gustafson

Seahawks Inactives: Witherspoon out again; Levis not playing for Titans

The Seattle Seahawks won't have rookie CB Devon Witherspoon against Tennessee, and the Titans will be without rookie QB Will Levis.

3 months ago

No. 1 Gonzaga falls to No. 23 Saint Mary’s 67-57 on tough day for Top 10