El Dorado News-Times

Gonzaga gets past West Virginia 61-58

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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Jordan Mathews hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with under a minute to play and top-seeded Gonzaga survived a rough shooting night for both teams to beat No. 4 seed West Virginia 61-58

Thursday night to advance to the West Regional final.

On a night that featured 51 fouls and only 34 made baskets, Mathews delivered the big shot that sent the Bulldogs (35-1) to their third Elite Eight in school history.

It didn't come easily. West Virginia (29-8) had three shots to tie the game but Tarik Phillip missed a shot from the lane and Jevon Carter missed two 3- pointers after Silas Melson m ad e one foul shot. The Mountainee­rs rebound both misses but couldn't get another shot off before the buzzer.

Despite shooting 26.7 percent for the game, West Virginia stayed close and took a 58-55 lead on a 3-pointer by Carter with 1:47 to play.

Nigel Williams-Goss answered with two free throws.

After Daxter Miles Jr. missed two fouls shots and Nathan Adrian was blocked by Josh Perkins on the putback, Williams-Goss found Mathews in the corner for the open 3-pointer that proved the game-winner.

Mathews, Przemek Karnowski and Johnathan Williams all had 13 points to lead the Bulldogs.

Carter led the Mountainee­rs with 21 points.

The game was tied at 30 after a first half that was far from an aesthetic masterpiec­e with 27 fouls and just 16 baskets.

The teams combined for 29 percent shooting, including 2 for 16 from 3-point range.

The Bulldogs created some space early in the second when Mathews hit 3s on consecutiv­e trips and added a free throw for a four-point play on the second to make it 41-34.

But the Mountainee­rs fought back and the game stayed tight until the end.

BIG PICTURE

West Virginia: The Mountainee­rs could get nothing going offensivel­y most of the night but a pair of 3-pointers by Carter in the second half helped them fight back from an eight-point deficit to briefly take the lead in the second half.

The rest of the team made just 10 baskets all game.

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs struggled to get into their offense all game. When they managed to beat the Mountainee­rs relentless press, they couldn't capitalize in the halfcourt. WCC Player of the Year Williams-Goss was held to 10 points on 2-for-10 shooting with five turnovers and was sent to the bench for a stretch with four fouls after committing two pushoffs on the offensive end.

 ?? Associated Press ?? Bulldogs survive: Gonzaga players celebrate on the bench during the second half of an NCAA Tournament regional semifinal game against West Virginia on Thursday in San Jose, Calif. The Bulldogs advanced with a 61-58 victory over the Mountainee­rs.
Associated Press Bulldogs survive: Gonzaga players celebrate on the bench during the second half of an NCAA Tournament regional semifinal game against West Virginia on Thursday in San Jose, Calif. The Bulldogs advanced with a 61-58 victory over the Mountainee­rs.
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