WCC TOURNAMENT : Turnaround Gives Gonzaga First Title

Gonzaga completed an extraordinary turnaround Monday night when it defeated Portland, 80-67, at Santa Clara’s Toso Pavilion to win the West Coast Conference tournament for the first time.

The Bulldogs, with only one starter back from the team that won the WCC regular-season championship last season before losing in the semifinals of the conference tournament, were 0-6 in conference play before rallying to win 10 of their last 11 games and earn their first NCAA tournament bid.

They overcame a nine-point second-half deficit in the final.

“We are playing very good basketball right now,” Coach Dan Fitzgerald said before the game. “I think any team that can go 0-6, be left for dead and battle back like these kids . . . it’s a tremendous achievement.”

Gonzaga (21-8) was led by John Rillie, a senior guard from Australia who scored 34 points in the final and was voted most valuable player in the tournament.

“He’s playing with great confidence, but more than that, he’s saying, ‘Get on the saddle, fellas, and ride me to the dance,’ ” Fitzgerald said.

Portland (21-8) hopes to attract its first National Invitation Tournament bid after enjoying its best season in 37 years at the NCAA Division I level.

The Pilots reached the tournament final for the first time after tying for second place behind Santa Clara during the regular season under first-year Coach Rob Chavez.