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Zags hold off Gaels, 72-70

Posted by Jim Meehan

Feb. 12, 2009 11:35 p.m. • 11 comments

Gonzaga used a 7-0 run to break away from a 60-60 tie, but the Bulldogs couldn’t seal the deal at the free-throw line. Five misses in the last 43 seconds gave Saint Mary’s a couple chances at the lead, but the Gaels turned the ball over once and Carlin Hughes’ 3-point attempt from 40 feet was off the mark as time expired.

The Bulldogs held on for a 72-70 win in front of a sellout crowd of 3,500 at McKeon Pavilion.

Read on for an unedited game story, and check back in the morning for a day-after post.

By Jim Meehan

Staff writer

MORAGA, Calif. – There was nothing easy about it, even with injured Saint Mary’s standout point guard Patty Mills on the bench in a suit and tie.

Gonzaga head coach Mark Few wasn’t expecting anything different.

The Bulldogs finally got some separation with a late 7-0 spurt, only to see the Gaels roar back with a couple of 3-pointers in a frantic final minute. The Bulldogs couldn’t seal it up at the free-throw line, making just 3 of 8 in the last 43.2 seconds.

But the Gaels came up empty on their last two possessions, once with a costly turnover and the other when Carlin Hughes’ desperation 3-pointer from about 40 feet was off target just before the horn sounded. Only then did Gonzaga escape with a wild 72-70 West Coast Conference victory in front of a 3,500 Thursday at McKeon Pavilion.

“The people that said it would be easy without Patty…,” said Few, shaking his head. “They have really good college players. Diamon (Simpson) is a warrior. I knew their guards would shoot it well in this building. They have all year.

“They were undefeated in this building (9-0). I don’t see them losing in this building, especially with crowds like that.”

The victory allowed the 19^th-ranked Bulldogs (18-5, 9-0 WCC) to maintain a two-game lead over Portland (16-8, 7-2), which defeated San Francisco. The Gaels (19-5, 6-4) have dropped four of five since losing Mills to a broken hand late in the first meeting with Gonzaga on Jan. 29.

Gonzaga broke from the 11^th and final tie at 60 on Austin Daye’s dunk, Josh Heytvelt’s two free throws and Matt Bouldin’s 3-pointer from the right wing. Bouldin beat the Gaels down the floor, and wasn’t shy about letting point guard Jeremy Pargo know it.

“He was ahead of the pack and he said, ‘C’mon, ball, ball, ball,’ ” Pargo said. “No one rotated out there so I threw it ahead and he made a really big 3 for us.”

Gonzaga also ratcheted up its defense, with Steven Gray, Heytvelt and Bouldin causing turnovers.

But Saint Mary’s didn’t go quietly. Hughes hit a 3-pointer to narrow GU’s lead to 70-67 with 31.4 seconds left. After Heytvelt made 1 of 2 free throws, Hughes tried to draw a foul on Heytvelt. When that wasn’t called, Hughes banked in an off-balance 3-pointer with 9.9 seconds remaining to cut GU’s lead to 71-70.

Bouldin missed two free throws, but the Gaels gave the ball back when Hughes couldn’t handle an inbounds pass. Pargo made 1 of 2 free throws with 4.1 seconds left. Hughes’ running 3-pointer was off line as time expired.

“We definitely made it tougher than we needed to,” Bouldin said.

Bouldin led GU with 21 points. His first bucket, with 15:34 remaining, pushed him over 1,000 career points. Heytvelt added 20 points – he’s two away from 1,000 career points – and 10 rebounds.

Gonzaga trailed by nine early, but rallied to pull even, 36-36, in a foul-plagued first half. GU was whistled for 12 fouls, prompting Few to substitute often. Reserve center Will Foster gave Gonzaga a big lift, finishing with three rebounds, two blocked shots and two points in 13 minutes.

“I did what I usually do on defense,” Foster said. “I rebound, I box out and I blocked some shots.”

Heytvelt did much the same. The senior forward had his third double-double of the season.

Still, Simpson finished with 15 rebounds, eight offensive, as the Gaels’ won the boards 45-33. But the Gaels couldn’t overcome 17 turnovers, 10 in the second half, and 39.7 percent shooting.

“It was an improvement for us,” Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett said. “We played better. There were still too many turnovers.”

11 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

MikeSequim on February 13 at 10:25 a.m.
Despite our point guard separating himself from the team most of the night, the Zag’s won. Trying to give Pargo the benefit of the doubt the past 3 years of watching his handling of the team has been tough for me. I’ve skirted the issue for 2 years hoping to see the true development of Pargo to the ultimate ZAG point guard. Nice kid, tough minded, talented. I can’t wait until next year so GU can finally move forward in a new direction with kids who regard TEAM first and them second at the point!

Don’t get me wrong here, I think Pargo is a great kid from what I’ve read and seen. It’s also apparant to me that he’s had one goal in mind from the beginning and that was HIS NBA stature and the team second. For the past 3 years, game after game after game if you review the tapes you can see the selfishness of his goal. Every once in awhile, He becomes the best point guard in the Country with his team. However those games are few and far between.

Last nights game was the clincher for me. Was it any worse than some others this year, NO, just finally cumlative I guess. The prime example was Pargo’s delayed pass to the hottest player on the team, let alone for the night, Matt. If anybody who watches and understands body language in the coaching circles looks at that sequence along with hundreds of other’s during th past 3 years, you will get my point. This is probably not the time to point out bad tendencies but I’m old and don’t care!

I love this team. I was hoping Pargo would’ve left his Chicago street ball style of play in Chicago and just developed his SPECIAL God given BB talent to benefit his team first. The kid is ozing with talent, the pro’s told him what to do but he just can’t let go of the ME first.

I still wish him well despite the outcomes ahead for GU. As always, JMO.

Go Zag’s

Mike, Sequim
GimmeeQHall on February 13 at 10:54 a.m.
Mike,

You are right on. don’t forget about the missed dunk and the blatant passes right to the other team last night. He was lucky he didn’t have more TO’s as several of his passes were tipped to other GU players or went out of bounds. Few has given the kid too much rope for far too long. Lets not forget that his defense is suspect also. All the talent in the world but a billion dollar body and 2$ mind gets you a career in Europe playing hoop or modeling. My point is Few hasn’t gotten the kid to progress. Same mistakes EVERY game. What’s that they say about insanity….it is the act of doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Pargo is not even the best point guard on this side of the state. Anybody would take Rochestie at WSU over Pargo. Not even a debate. And Rochestie plays in a much tougher league than the WCC. Rochestie has not half the physical tools but is a much smarter player. And the reason…..Bennett demands it. No questions or maybes. Pargo is allowed to be loose with the ball and make bad decisions. It hasn’t changed in 4 years and it won’t change when they “maybe” win their first round game in the NCAA tourney. It’s not all on Pargo by any means but when you are the point guard the team takes on your personality.
Jeremy on February 13 at 11:42 a.m.
I don’t want to rain on Pargo, but this goes along with what you guys are talking about… it’s always killed me when the ball is in his hands as the clock is winding toward halftime or end of game. Happens a lot and he rarely, if ever, converts. Always waits to long to make a move and settles with a jump shot or fadeaway if he is able to get it off. It happened last night.
GimmeeQHall on February 13 at 12:00 p.m.
Jeremy,

Agreed. You always get that feeling of “what’s going to happen next” any time the shot clock is winding down and he has the ball. That shot he got off at half was pathetic. That’s on Few though for allowing a guy who continually makes bad decisions to have the ball in his hands. Rather see Bouldin with the ball. Better shooter and much better passer…..
NevadaZag on February 13 at 2:36 p.m.
I am in absolute agreement with everything said here re: Jeremy Pargo. He has never developed into a true Zag player, one who plays for the team, not for his own glory. In addition to that, he makes terrible decisions on the court. I had hoped that this year, finally, he could mature and become smarter in the point position, pass the ball to set up a play or drive when there was an opening. But after literally watching Pargo dribble right and lose the ball for about the 20th time this season, I threw my arms up and gave up trying to keep the faith in Pargo. I’m done. I, too, look forward to next year when he is gone. Put Bouldin in the point. He has really developed, makes good decisions, and he knows how to pass the ball!

I also think it’s worth noting that Mike from Sequim is always really positive about the team, so you know he’s been driven to the brink to go on his rant.
SeeRed on February 14 at 11:06 p.m.
This team in general doesn’t have a clutch guy that you want to have the ball with the last shot. With Morrison you knew that if Zags had the ball down by 1 he slashes by someone for the winner. Down by 2 he puts an eye-patch on someone for the winner. Dickau was the same way, just like someone on just about every team since this NCAA run started. This year, if they aren’t up by 10 with 2 minutes to go it is anyone’s game and there is nobody, and i mean nobody, that you have much confidence in at the end of the game. You need someone like that if you expect to do anything more than make an appearance in the dance.