Gonzaga Advances to 28th Straight WCC Championship After Thrilling Semifinal Win

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Gonzaga University’s men’s basketball team secured its 28th consecutive West Coast Conference (WCC) Tournament championship game appearance with an 85-76 victory over the University of San Francisco on Monday night at Orleans Arena.

In a matchup of the second-seeded Bulldogs (24-8) against the third-seeded Dons (24-9), Graham Ike led the scoring for Gonzaga with 27 points and 10 rebounds. Khalif Battle added 21 points as the Bulldogs extended their winning streak against San Francisco to 33 games.

Gonzaga’s strong offensive performance in the second half was critical to the victory. Ike opened the half with four consecutive baskets, which shifted momentum in favor of the Bulldogs. “We just like to set the tone in the second half with the first four minutes,” Ike said after the game.

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few praised San Francisco’s effort, stating, “It was a great basketball game, and it took everything we had to kind of hold them off. I thought San Francisco was great tonight.” He acknowledged the challenge of competing against a program with a strong presence in the conference, highlighting San Francisco’s talented roster.

The game was closely contested throughout the first half, with Gonzaga trailing at halftime before taking the lead for good in the second half. Battle’s three-point shot and subsequent free throws provided crucial points during the second-half surge. His contributions and those of Ike proved vital as the Bulldogs pulled away. “You can’t walk two steps in a hotel without somebody saying ‘Go Zags,’ so it’s been a big family atmosphere,” Battle remarked regarding the Gonzaga fan support.

The championship game will see Gonzaga facing top-seeded Saint Mary’s, which defeated Pepperdine in an earlier semifinal. The matchup marks the fourth consecutive year that the two teams will meet in the WCC championship, adding further intensity to an already fierce rivalry.

“At this point in the season, it’s not anything you haven’t seen. I thought our guys handled it very, very well,” Few added, reflecting on the team’s resilience and experience in high-pressure situations.

The Gonzaga Bulldogs are well on their way to securing an automatic berth in the upcoming NCAA Tournament with their ongoing success in the WCC. The championship game against Saint Mary’s is set for Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET, with ESPN broadcasting the pivotal showdown.