LAS VEGAS — Tommy Kuhse scored 27 factors, Logan Johnson hit two free throws with 3.6 seconds left after blocking a shot and No. 17 Saint Mary’s held off a late rally to beat Santa Clara 75-72 within the West Coast Convention event semifinals Monday night time.
The Gaels (25-6) shut down one of many nation’s best-shooting groups for many of the night time, constructing a 15-point lead.
The Broncos (21-11) got here charging again, pulling inside 73-71 on Keshawn Justice’s 3-pointer with 42 seconds left, and received the ball again after Jalen Williams blocked Kuhse’s layup try.
Williams then drove the lane in an try to offer the Broncos the lead, however was blocked by Johnson. Williams’ 3-point try on the buzzer hit off the aspect of the rim, sending the Gaels dashing out onto the ground in celebration.
Saint Mary’s strikes on to fulfill No. 1 Gonzaga within the title sport for the fifth time in seven years.
Justice and Josip Vrankic led Santa Clara with 17 factors every.
The Gaels had their greatest win of the season of their final sport, rolling over No. 1 Gonzaga 67-57 in Moraga. The win, Saint Mary’s fourth straight, possible locked up an NCAA Event bid and confirmed the Gaels are a legit risk to unseat Gonzaga as WCC event champions.
First, they needed to get by Santa Clara.
The Broncos’ sixth season underneath coach Herb Sendek has arguably been their greatest. Santa Clara has its most wins since 2012-13 and put itself on the NCAA Event bubble with one of many nation’s sharpest-shooting offenses.
The Broncos arrived in Las Vegas sixth nationally in discipline aim share (49.3) and seventh in 3-point taking pictures (38.8).
Saint Mary’s received the groups’ first assembly 73-65 at house, however Santa Clara beat the Gaels 77-72 on Feb. 8, ending a 43-game shedding streak towards ranked opponents.
The Broncos wanted slightly time to get going within the third go-round after blowing out Portland the night time earlier than.
The Gaels didn't.
Led by the artful Kuhse, Saint Mary’s hit 9 of its first 11 pictures, constructing a 10-point lead within the opening eight minutes. The Gaels pushed the result in 13 however couldn’t maintain the taking pictures tempo because the Broncos began to seek out the vary.
Santa Clara scored the ultimate seven factors of the primary half to drag inside 39-34.
Kuhse kickstarted the Gaels once more to start out the second half, opening with a layup then hitting consecutive 3-pointers in a gap 10-0 run. Saint Mary’s pushed the result in 15 solely to have the scrappy Broncos mount a livid cost.
The Broncos had their probabilities late however got here up simply quick.
BIG PICTURE
Santa Clara didn’t play with its typical offensive effectivity, but nonetheless discovered a solution to rally within the closing minutes. The Broncos got here up simply quick — within the sport and certain an NCAA Event bid.
Saint Mary’s dominated for a lot of the sport, allowed Santa Clara to claw its manner again and made the largest performs down the stretch to earn one other shot at Gonzaga.
UP NEXT
Santa Clara: Awaits phrase the place it should play within the postseason.
Saint Mary’s: Strikes on to face top-ranked Gonzaga in Tuesday’s championship sport.