No. 4-seeded West Virginia uglied up the game as only a Bob Huggins-coached team can, and it was almost enough. But the upset was denied and No. 1-seeded Gonzaga prevailed 61-58 in San Jose Thursday to move on to the NCAA men’s tourney’s Elite Eight. Saturday the Zags will play No. 11 Xavier, which upset No. 2 Arizona 73-71, for the West Region’s spot in the Final Four.
“We’ve been focused forever on Phoenix,” said coach Mark Few of the site of the championship. “We’re desperate to get there.”
It’s the third trip to the round of eight, but they have yet to win the next game.
In a game that featured just 34 field goals and a 51 personal fouls, both teams looked desperate. The Zags (35-1) took the lead for good, 60-58, with 57 seconds remaining on a three-pointer in transition by Jordan Mathews, who had been burdened by foul trouble.
West Virginia (29-8) missed a runner in the lane and fouled the Bulldogs’ Silas Melson, who made one of two free throws. Javon Carter, who led the poor-shooting Mountaineers (26.7 percent from the field, five of 23 on threes) with 21 points, was determined to tie the game, but missed two long threes. Looking for a third heave, West Virginia could not get past Gonzaga’s perimeter defense as time expired.
The Zags kept alive their 19th consecutive tourney bid despite the aggressive double-teaming and physicality of the Mountaineers, who tied the game at 30 at halftime thanks in part to foul trouble that crimped the Zags’ normally fluid offense.
The Zags also had 16 turnovers, including five from Nigel Williams-Goss, a target of West Virginia’s defense that often dogged him baseline to baseline. The Spokane school made only one of its final eight shots heading into intermission.
The West Coast Conference champs started moving the ball well in the second half and looked to be in control with a 45-37 lead. But the Mountaineers could not be shaken — nor could they shoot their way back in, missing 44 of 60 attempts. Carter missed 11 of 17, but his 14 second-half points gave West Virginia its best chance, tying at 55 inside two minutes.
Mathews, Johnathan Williams and Przemek Karnowski each had 13 points, but leading scorer Williams-Goss, a transfer from Washington, missed eight of his 10 shots and finished with 10 points.
20 Comments
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At games end it was up to the Zags to snatch the win…. and they did.
This club reminds me a lot of the calm gunslinger in the old west pictures. Amid serious stress they just held onto their heads and secured the win. They are just different from the other really good clubs of the last 20 years coming out of Spokane.
Three more… just 3 more opportunities to stay unrattled and get to 38~1 and a National championship. Bring it home to Washington Gonzaga!
You have to be a fairly empty Huskies vessel if you can’t appreciate the achievement by Gonzaga,
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Wow you guys. A team from the state of Washington makes it to the elite eight and THIS is the story we get? One comment from Few and no player quotes. I’m guessing you got that quote off of TV. This is the first sports page I turn to in the morning. You guys served up a brick. Come on Art. Speaking of bricks, “We now go back to Seattle for continuing coverage of the mess at Montlake.” Yawn.
You can’t expect a typically fawning GU article if it isn’t deserved, bud.
Uh, there’re in the fricking Elite 8! Isn’t deserved? You’re nuts.
I need to see them win one running away with it rather than barely hanging on. Take off the homer glasses. They aren’t winning a title with the way they’re playing late.
So LL70, was that 83-59 ass-kicking of Xavier good enough for ya?
I didn’t see it, but, sure. Still not sold, though. We’ll see next weekend…
You’re out of your mind. Peace out!
Indeed, it’s a great feat, talkjoc. Don’t take shorter stories as a sign of disrespect.
I’m a content kind of guy not a column inch counter. Always enjoy your work. Understand self-employed budget issues. Been there, done that but on the electronic side of things. Keep grinding, we’ll be there.
You just hit paydirt! Go Zags!
No, more like GU fans can’t handle when someone local views their favourite team with a critical and non-partisan eye. If I’d have been talking about UCLA, you’d all think I was spot-on. Hope you’re watching the UF-USC game today. GU won’t be able to half step against either one of those schools next weekend.
Happy to take your donation to help independent journalism thrive with correspondents in news-making places. Thanks.
I support your eforts by using the Amazon link. Just shocked that the Zags, at that time, crack the elite 8 and we get an AP sorry. Will it change now that they’re in the final four?
Well, we’re not able to send anyone. We’ll do our best.
I understand. Appreciate the fact that you take the time to respond.
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