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Gonzaga Basketball: 2019-20 keys to Bulldogs defeating Saint Mary’s at home

By Tristan Freeman

SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs rally for their team in the game against the Pacific Tigers at McCarthey Athletic Center on January 25, 2020 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeats Pacififc 92-59. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images)
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON - JANUARY 25: Fans for the Gonzaga Bulldogs rally for their team in the game against the Pacific Tigers at McCarthey Athletic Center on January 25, 2020 in Spokane, Washington. Gonzaga defeats Pacififc 92-59. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /
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Gonzaga Basketball
SPOKANE, WASHINGTON – JANUARY 16: Drew Timme #2, Killian Tillie #33 and Corey Kispert #24 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Gonzaga Basketball ends its regular season at home against rival Saint Mary’s. What are the keys for the Bulldogs to get the season sweep over the Gaels?

Different year, same Gonzaga Basketball team with a West Coast Conference championship. After handling San Diego at home, 94-59, the Bulldogs the 2019-20 WCC regular-season title, making it the 21st out of the last 23 seasons. Filip Petrusev led all scorers with 21 points, while Ryan Woolridge bounced back with 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists.

But the win over the Toreros likely won’t wash the taste completely out of Bulldogs fans mouths after the 13-point loss at BYU last Saturday. It ended a number of impressive conference streaks the Bulldogs had and gave them their lone WCC this season. The good news is that with San Diego State’s loss at home to UNLV, Gonzaga (28-2, 14-1 WCC) remains the projected No. 1 seed out in the West Region according to many brackets.

However, the Bulldogs could fall out if they can’t lose another game, starting on Saturday against Saint Mary’s (24-6, 11-4 WCC). The Gaels had a 40-minute fight on their hands against the underhanded Santa Clara Broncos but Jordan’s Ford‘s 33 points were just enough to win 78-72. Malik Fitts and Dan Fotu combined for 27 points to help out the senior guard in offensive production.

This is typically one of the best rivalries out west but it was far from that in the first matchup between these teams. In Moraga, Gonzaga started out making 14 of 15 shots to blow the game wide open. Mark Few’s squad shot 68% from the field to blow out the Gaels, 90-60.

Saint Mary’s will certainly be looking for revenge, as well as guaranteeing their spot in the NCAA Tournament. Even at home, it likely won’t be as easy this time around. So how do the Bulldogs make sure they enter the WCC Tournament on some momentum?