Battle-tested Gonzaga weathers USD

By: TOM SHANAHAN - For The North County Times | Monday, February 18, 2008 11:55 PM PST ∞

SAN DIEGO -- The University of San Diego's Jenny Craig Pavilion was sold out, the student section overflowed to six sections instead of the usual two and the game went down to the final minute.

But while it may have been something new for USD to be playing for first place in the West Coast Conference in mid-February, it was nothing unusual for Gonzaga.

The Bulldogs, veterans of nine straight NCAA tournaments, overcame the hostile environment and USD's defense to beat the Toreros 59-55 Monday night before 5,100 fans and an ESPN2 national television audience.

"We knew it would be tough, and I'm proud of our guys for the way they withstood all the rallies and adversity that San Diego brought at us," Gonzaga coach Mark Few said. "They had guys making threes that hadn't made threes all year."

Gonzaga (21-6, 10-1 WCC) and 23rd-ranked Saint Mary's (23-3, 10-1 WCC), which beat Pepperdine 100-64, remained tied for first place in the WCC. The loss dropped USD to 15-12 overall and 8-2 in the WCC, with both conference losses to Gonzaga.

The Toreros have four WCC games remaining before the conference tournament, with an automatic NCAA tournament berth at stake, is staged here March 7-10.

"I thought the tempo was in our favor, and I thought we fought hard at the defensive end," said first-year coach Bill Grier, who spent 16 years as a Gonzaga assistant. "We had good looks from the perimeter and on drives, but we didn't knock them down."

With USD junior point guard Brandon Johnson hitting only 2-of-15 shots for eight points and the Toreros' guards struggling to get the ball inside to junior forward/center Gyno Pomare (four points, nine rebounds), USD had to search elsewhere for offense.

Gonzaga appeared to have put the Toreros away with a 52-43 lead with 3 minutes, 29 seconds left in the game, but USD rallied with 3-point field goals on consecutive possessions for one push.

Junior Danny Brown, a seldom-used reserve guard, sandwiched two 3-pointers around a three-ball by true freshman point guard Trumaine Johnson to trim Gonzaga's lead to 54-52 with 58 seconds to play.

USD needed another stop, but Gonzaga point guard Jeremy Pargo ran the shot clock down before hitting Matt Bouldin on a backdoor pass under the basket for a reverse layup and 56-52 lead with 29 seconds remaining.

Bouldin led the Bulldogs with 13 points. David Pendergraft added 10 as eight Gonzaga players scored.

Trumaine Johnson led the Toreros with 17 points, including hitting 5-of-8 3-pointers. Brown was the only other USD player in double figures, scoring 11 points thanks to a 3-of-6 showing on 3-pointers.

"It shows some growth in our team," said Trumaine Johnson. "At the beginning of the season, I don't think we would have had the confidence to do that. But now we have people ready to step up."

USD also was hurt by early fouls on Pomare and freshman forward Rob Jones. Neither player scored in the first half, when Pomare played only 13 minutes and Jones just three.

Pomare attempted only five shots in the game, as the Toreros struggled to get the ball inside against a Gonzaga's taller lineup.

"They do a nice job, and they're very long," Grier said. "I think this is (Few's) best defensive team. It's not just us; they've done that to everybody this year."