Gonzaga takes down BYU, 88-84, in WCC semis to boost NCCA tournament chances
Mark Few said his Gonzaga University men’s basketball team has not had an off night all season.
Just a lot of nail-biting moments.
Likely needing to win the West Coast Conference tournament championship to get to the NCAA tournament, the Zags moved one step closer to that goal.
But it wasn’t easy.
Kyle Wiltjer scored a game-high 29 points, and the second-seeded Zags held off No. 3 seed BYU, 88-84, in the conference tournament semifinals Monday night at the Orleans Arena.
Gonzaga, the three-time defending tournament champion, will play in the WCC title game for a 19th consecutive year, taking on top-seeded St. Mary’s. Tipoff Tuesday is at 6 p.m.
In the end, Wiltjer – the 2015 tournament most valuable player – was the difference in this tightly-contested game that totaled physical inside play and clutch long-range shooting as both teams combined for 20 3-pointers, including 12 by the Zags.
Up 78-74, Wiltjer got the ball near the left side of the 3-point line. He hesitated slightly to let a defender pass by, took one step forward and drained a 3-pointer to give the Zags a seven-point lead with 2:54 to go.
Gonzaga wore out the Cougars’ interior defense with Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis (18 points). BYU’s frontcourt was in foul trouble – and the Zags were in the bonus starting at the 13:23 mark of the second half.
The Zags made 13 of 17 free throws from that time on – and were 7 of 8 in the final 4:06.
Chase Fischer’s 3-pointer cut it to 85-82 for BYU with 30.2 seconds remaining, but Kyle Dranginis made the first of two free throws on the other end 13 seconds later to keep it a two-possession game.
And 10 seconds, after a Kyle Collinsworth 3-pointer miss, Josh Perkins sealed it up by making both of his free throws with seven seconds remaining.
“We are in a great place. They are playing the game with a lot of confidence and a lot of emotion,” Few said. “.” I have no doubt whatsoever they will rise up tomorrow and play their tails off.”
This semifinal was a rematch of the past two WCC tournament championship games – both won by the Zags, who are gunning for their 15th conference title overall against the Gaels.
“Our real rivalry is tomorrow,” Perkins said.
This story was originally published March 7, 2016 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Gonzaga takes down BYU, 88-84, in WCC semis to boost NCCA tournament chances."