Web update: Bulldogs blow by Broncos and into WCC finals

By Matthew Cucuzza

The Broncos kept up with Gonzaga for 37 minutes at the Leavey Center on Feb. 26.

The two teams' next meeting was a very different story.

Gonzaga defeated the Santa Clara Broncos 94-59 in the West Coast Conference Tournament semifinals at the sold-out Orleans Arena in Las Vegas Sunday night.

Austin Daye led the Zags with a career-high 28 points and Micah Downs added 18.

"We played great on both ends," said Gonzaga head coach Mark Few. "We wanted to play this game at our pace instead of theirs, and these guys executed perfectly."

Gonzaga (25-5) advances to Monday night's championship match and will play Saint Mary's.

The last time Gonzaga did not play in the WCC Tournament championship game was in 1997. The Zags have also won eight of the last 10 West Coast tournament titles.

The game may have been the last for Santa Clara seniors John Bryant and Calvin Johnson. Santa Clara head coach Kerry Keating said he will explore post-season tournament possibilities for the Broncos, but that their sub-.500 overall record may not earn them a bid.

"I think our team is the perfect example of why there needs to be postseason tournaments available outside the NCAA and NIT," said Keating. "When you have a young group of kids who obviously are poised to do great things, postseason is going to help them and give them the confidence and experience they need to be the type of team that will be talked about in the NCAA Tournament for years to come."

Bryant finished the game with 10 rebounds and 13 points for his 26th double-double of the season. Johnson had two points for Santa Clara (16-17).

James Rahon scored a team-high 20 points and Kevin Foster contributed 17 points.

Matt Bouldin led the Bulldogs with a team-high eight boards, seven assists and added 11 points. Jeremy Pargo contributed 16 points and a memorable missed dunk.

Gonzaga's Josh Heytvelt only pulled down four rebounds, but the 6-foot-11 forward's strong post play prevented the Broncos from attacking the basket.

"I couldn't dribble the ball," said Bryant. "I was really focusing on getting the ball outside."

Broncos guard Kevin Foster hit a 3-pointer to put the Broncos in front 8-7 just 3:44 into the game, but Gonzaga's Daye converted on two free throws 23 seconds later to put the Bulldogs out front for good.

Santa Clara turned the ball over 22 times, which led to 32 points for Gonzaga.

"That's where they make their money," said Bryant. "They're a great transition team."

Gonzaga ended the first half with a 23-6 run as Bouldin and Pargo each hit two threes in the last 6:36. The Bulldogs carried a 48-27 lead into the break.

Gonzaga was 13-for-22 overall on 3-pointers. The Broncos hit only 7-of-15 from beyond the arc.

Bryant finishes the tournament with 37 rebounds over two games, only three shy of the tournament record set in 1991 by Pepperdine's Geoff Lear.

The center now has 1,152 rebounds for his Santa Clara career, which is tops in Broncos history.