What's Happening?
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, ranked No. 8, narrowly defeated the San Francisco Dons 68-66 in a West Coast Conference matchup. Jalen Warley led Gonzaga with 19 points, while Davis Fogle contributed 15 points and secured a crucial rebound in the final moments. Despite missing their top scorers, Braden Huff and Graham Ike, due to injuries, Gonzaga managed to extend their winning streak to 14 games this season and 34 consecutive victories over San Francisco. The Dons, who have not won against Gonzaga since 2012, made a strong effort with Legend Smiley scoring 18 points and Ryan Beasley adding 14. San Francisco's impressive 3-point shooting, hitting 14 of 28 attempts, kept the game competitive until the end.
Why It's Important?
This victory solidifies Gonzaga's dominance in the
West Coast Conference, maintaining their perfect conference record at 9-0 and an overall record of 21-1. The Bulldogs' ability to win despite the absence of key players highlights their depth and resilience, crucial traits for their aspirations in the NCAA tournament. For San Francisco, the close loss underscores their potential to challenge top teams, although their inability to secure a win against Gonzaga since 2012 remains a hurdle. The game also reflects the competitive nature of the WCC, where teams like San Francisco can push top-ranked opponents to the limit.
What's Next?
Gonzaga is set to host their rival, Saint Mary's, in their next game, which will be another test of their strength in the conference. Meanwhile, San Francisco will face Santa Clara, aiming to bounce back and improve their conference standing. Both teams will look to refine their strategies and address any weaknesses exposed in this closely contested game.
