Sacre, Gray lift Gonzaga over Saint Mary's

By Lynn Debruin

Associated Press

Published: Monday, March 7 2011 9:50 p.m. MST

View 4 photos »

Gonzaga fans cheer at the start of an NCAA college basketball game during the West Coast Conference tournament against Saint Mary's, Monday, March 7, 2011, in Las Vegas.

Julie Jacobson, Associated Press

Summary

Robert Sacre scored 12 points, including a dunk and four free late free throws and Gonzaga beat Saint Mary's 75-63 Monday night to win the West Coast Conference tournament for the second time in three years.

LAS VEGAS — Robert Sacre scored 12 points, including a dunk and four free late free throws and Gonzaga beat Saint Mary's 75-63 Monday night to win the West Coast Conference tournament for the second time in three years.

Gonzaga (24-9) received an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament for its 13th straight appearance. Saint Mary's (24-8) will have to hope for an at-large berth.

The game was tied at 53 when reserve Sam Dower started an 8-0 Gonzaga run with a pick-and-roll layup. Freshman guard David Stockton, with Hall of Fame father John Stockton in the stands, hit a 3-pointer to put Gonzaga ahead 58-53.

Saint Mary's made it 61-58 on a 3-pointer by Clint Steindl, but Elias Harris countered with a tip-in, and Sacre made two more free throws and a powerful dunk off a pass inside from Stockton to put it out of reach.

Comments