Zags wrap up WCC regular-season crown
Filip Petrusev had 21 points and nine rebounds as No. 3 Gonzaga beat San Diego 94-59 on Thursday to clinch its eighth straight West Coast Conference regular-season title.
Corey Kispert scored 16 points, and Ryan Woolridge had 15 for Gonzaga (28-2, 14-1 WCC), which rebounded from its loss at BYU on Saturday. The win came on a night when former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison was honored.
Joey Calcaterra scored 19 points and Alex Floresca had 11 for undersized San Diego (9-21, 2-13), which has lost 12 straight to Gonzaga.
Gonzaga has won 38 consecutive home games, the longest streak in the country.
Kispert scored 11 points as Gonzaga took an 18-12 lead midway through the first half. San Diego made three straight baskets to tie the score at 18.
Killian Tillie and Petrusev led a 21- 9 run by Gonzaga that put the Bulldogs up 39-27.
Gonzaga led 46-34 at halftime, after shooting nearly 59% with a 28-8 advantage on points in the paint.
A 14-5 run to open the second half put Gonzaga up 60-39.
Gonzaga honored Morrison, a former first-team All-American, before the game by unveiling his jersey number in the rafters of the McCarthey Athletic Center. However, his No. 3 was not retired.
The Zags lead the nation in scoring at 87.6 points per game and in scoring margin at 20 ppg.
SAINT MARY’S EDGES SANTA CLARA »
Jordan Ford scored 33 points to lead Saint Mary’s (24- 6, 11- 4 WCC) past Santa Clara 78-72. Tahj Eaddy led the Broncos (18-12, 5-10) with 20 points at the Leavey Center. USC HOLDS OFF ARIZONA » Jonah Mathews scored 14 points, and Onyeka Okongwu had a double-double as USC held off Arizona 57- 48 in Los Angeles.
Mathews’ only 3-pointer came with 3:24 left for a 50- 44 lead, and he hit two free throws at the 2-minute mark to re- establish a six-point edge as USC (20- 9, 9-7 Pac-12) improved its positioning in its bid for an NCAA Tournament berth.
Arizona ( 19- 9, 9- 6) lost its second consecutive game and almost had as many turnovers ( 15) as made field goals ( 16). Zeke Nnaji led the Wildcats with 15 points and 10 rebounds. OHIO STATE ROLLS PAST NEBRASKA »
Kaleb Wesson scored 16 points and had a career-high 18 rebounds, and No. 23 Ohio State got out to a quick double- digit lead on its way to a 7554 victory at Nebraska.
Ohio State (19-9, 9-8 Big Ten), playing without injured starting forward Kyle Young, won for the fourth time in five games. Nebraska (7-21, 2-15) lost its 13th straight.
The Buckeyes led 26-12 after making 9 of their first 11 shots, including 5 of 6 3-pointers.
TRICE, WISCONSIN HOLD OFF NO. 19 MICHIGAN 81-74 » D’Mitrik Trice scored 28 points, and Wisconsin snapped No. 19 Michigan’s winning streak at five with an 81-74 victory at Ann Arbor. The Badgers (18-10, 11- 6 Big Ten) extended their winning streak to five, never trailing in the game and repelling every Michigan push in the second half.
Zavier Simpson scored a careerhigh 32 points for the Wolverines (18-10, 9-8), who were without guard Eli Brooks because of a broken nose. GRIFFIN SCORES CAREER-HIGH 24 AS ILLINOIS BEATS NORTHWESTERN » Alan Griffin set career highs with 24 points and six 3-pointers, Ayo Dosunmu scored 21, and Illinois beat struggling Northwestern 74- 66 on the road.
The Illini ( 19- 9, 11- 6 Big Ten) moved into a tie for second place behind Maryland. The Wildcats lost their 12th straight.
PURDUE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF INDIANA’S SHOOTING TO END SKID » Trevion Williams scored 19 points, and Eric Hunter Jr. added 17 to help Purdue hold off a late charge from Indiana 57- 49.
The Boilermakers (15-14, 8-10 Big Ten) snapped a four- game losing streak and won its seventh straight against their in-state rival.
The Hoosiers (18-10, 8- 9) have lost five straight at Purdue’s Mackey Arena over the past seven years.
Women
NO. 1 SOUTH CAROLINA EARNS 22ND STRAIGHT VICTORY » Mikiah Herbert Harrigan scored 18 points, Tyasha Harris added 16, and No. 1 South Carolina routed Florida 100-67 on the road for its 22nd consecutive victory.
The Gamecocks (28-1, 15- 0 Southeastern Conference) matched the program record for consecutive victories.
Zada Williams led the Gators (1513, 6-9) with 16 points. NO. 5 LOUISVILLE CLINCHES ACC OUTRIGHT » Kylee Shook matched a season high with 18 points and added 10 rebounds as No. 5 Louisville (26-3, 152) beat Boston College 68- 48 at home and clinched the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title.
The Eagles (17-11, 10-7) had their five-game winning streak snapped.