San Diego stuns Gonzaga
- Share via
SAN DIEGO -- Rob Jones and De’Jon Jackson keyed a huge second-half run for the San Diego Toreros, who stunned No. 20 Gonzaga, 69-62, to win the West Coast Conference tournament championship game Monday night and clinch their first NCAA tournament berth since 2003.
Showing no effects from needing two overtimes to beat St. Mary’s on Sunday, the scrappy Toreros (21-13) went on a 19-4 run in the second half to take control and give first-year Coach Bill Grier a huge win against his old boss, Gonzaga’s Mark Few.
San Diego had lost 13 straight to the Zags (25-7) since upsetting them in the 2003 tournament title game.
Holding a comfortable lead in the final minute, the Toreros put an emphatic stamp on the upset. Gyno Pomare had a fast-break dunk with 25 seconds left, then pumped his fists after making two free throws. Trumaine Johnson had another slam with 7.9 seconds and hung on the rim, drawing a technical foul.
The Zags must now wait for an at-large invitation.
Jackson scored 16 points, Jones 15 and Pomare 14, along with 10 rebounds.
Jeremy Pargo had 22 points for Gonzaga.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
