WCAC Roundup : Overtime Win Gives St. Mary’s the Title

Al Lewis scored 20 points, including two on foul shots with 13 seconds left in overtime, to lead 19th-ranked St. Mary’s over Gonzaga, 67-63, at Spokane, Wash., and give the Gaels the West Coast Athletic Conference regular-season championship.

St. Mary’s, which this week moved into the top 20 for the first time in school history, improved to 23-3 overall and 11-2 in the conference. The victory, coupled with Pepperdine’s loss to USF, assured that the Gaels will be seeded No. 1 for the WCAC tournament March 4-6 in USF Francisco.

Gonzaga erased a nine-point deficit in the last 2:30 of regulation and tied the score, 57-57, with 31 seconds left on a three-point shot by Jim McPhee. He led the Bulldogs (13-13, 4-9) with 21 points.

James Dailey’s basket and two free throws by Robert Haugen put St. Mary’s ahead, 61-57, in the first minute of overtime.

McPhee made five straight free throws in the extra period before missing the back end of a one-and-one with 1:50 left that would have tied the score at 63-63.

Haugen scored on St. Mary’s next possession, and Lewis’ free throws sealed the outcome.

U. San Diego 53, Portland 31--Danny Means scored 12 points to pace the Toreros (7-18, 2-11) to the win at Portland, Ore.

Portland, which shot just 22% from the floor, is 2-24 and 2-11.