#1 Gonzaga 66 - #9 LMU 48

#9 LMU's unexpected run in the WCC Tournament came to a halt in the semifinals at the hands of the #1 team in the conference and the nation, Gonzaga.

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An extremely Gonzaga fan heavy crowd of 7,896 packed the Orleans Arena to watch the game. For the first 20 minutes only the small contingent of LMU fans was feeling comfortable. There were eight lead changes and four ties during the first 20 minutes. Nick Stover and Anthony Ireland paced the Lions with eight points each. It looked as if the efforts of those two would give the Lions the lead at the break. With one second remaining a Sam Dower lay up gave Gonzaga a one point, 27-26 lead.

The Zags were on pace for their lowest point total of the season at the break. 57, against Clemson on November 22nd, was their lowest and they were on pace for 54.

The second half saw a much different style. The Zags shook off the rust that had built up during their week off. Over the first six minutes of the second half the Zags extended the lead to 15 points. Their zone defense absolutely destroyed LMU's offense, which scored only five points during that stretch.

The Lions returned to their regular season ways and gave Anthony Ireland very little help scoring the ball. Stover, who had a team high eight in the first half, did not score in the second. Godwin Okonji and Ashley Hamilton, the two sparks for the Lions in their previous tournament games, finished with four and five fouls respectively. Those two were ineffective in the paint and the Lions scored only four points down low. Getting inside the Zags' zone proved to be nearly impossible.

The score was 66-44 with 31 seconds remaining but the Lions kept battling. Max Good would rather his team "lose by 100 than 101" so he must have been pleased with Ireland and Okonji during the last half minute. Both went to the line and made both their free throws, moving the lead from 22 to 18.

The Lions season ends at 11-23.

Gonzaga is now 30-2. This is the first time the Zags have played a game as the number one ranked team in the polls. This is the first season the Zags have won 30 games.

Gonzaga advances to its 16th straight WCC Tournament Championship Game.