No. 9 Gonzaga to face No. 16 Saint Mary’s for WCC title

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Anton Watson scored 20 pointsand Drew Timme had 17 to help No. 9 Gonzaga beat pesky SanFrancisco 84-73 on Monday night and advance to yet another WestCoast Conference championship game.

The Bulldogs (27-5) will face No. 16 Saint Mary’s (26-6) onTuesday for the tournament title. The teams split tworegular-season meetings.

Julian Strawther scored 15 points while playing in his hometownand Ben Gregg had 12 for Gonzaga.

Khalil Shabazz led San Francisco (20-14) with 26 points. TyrellRoberts scored 17.

Gonzaga is in the conference championship game for the 26th timein a row. The Zags have won this event 20 times.

They enter on an eight-game winning streak. Gonzaga’s last loss?In overtime at Saint Mary’s.

NO. 16 SAINT MARY’S 76, BYU 69

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alex Ducas scored 23 points to lead four SaintMary’s players in double figures, and the Gaels held off a late BYUrally in the West Coast Conference semifinals.

The Gaels (26-6) will play in their fourth WCC title game infive years Tuesday night, facing No. 9 Gonzaga. Saint Mary’s willtry to win its first tournament championship since 2019.

BYU (19-15) will wait to see if the NIT has a spot. The Cougarshave a NET ranking of No. 85, so they are at best on the bubble. Ifthey don’t make the postseason, this was their last game as a WCCteam; the program joins the Big 12 Conference next season.