Gonzaga clinches share of WCC title

Spokane, WA (Sports Network) - Steven Gray scored 26 points -- 19 in the first half -- and the 18th-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs clinched a share of their 10th consecutive regular season conference title with an 88-51 drubbing of Santa Clara.

Gray hit 7-of-8 shots in the first half and finished with a 10-of-12 mark for the Bulldogs (23-5, 11-2 WCC), who have won the West Coast Conference Tournament in eight of the last 10 years. Bol Kong added 12 points, while Robert Sacre had 11 points in the lopsided victory.

Marc Trasolini and Niyi Harrison each scored 13 points for Santa Clara (11-19, 3-10), which lost for the third time in four games. The Broncos scored just 15 points in the first half and trailed by 26 at halftime.

Gonzaga wasted no time turning the game into a rout, thanks to the hot hand of Gray. He opened the scoring with a three-pointer and a pair of free throws, and later hit his third three of the game in as many attempts for an 18-7 Bulldogs lead just past the six-minute mark.

A steal and subsequent layup by Gray near the midway point had Gonzaga ahead by 13, and Elias Harris later scored six consecutive points for a 32-13 advantage.

The lead ballooned to 41-15 at halftime, and Gonzaga coasted to the finish line in the second half to clinch the conference title.

Game Notes

Gonzaga's 10 straight conference titles is three short of the all-time record, set by UCLA...The Bulldogs are 11-1 at home, while the Broncos are 5-7 on the road...Gonzaga leads the all-time series, 44-30, and won both games against Santa Clara this season...Harris scored nine points.