Zags stand alone

It took nearly 25 minutes, but the Gonzaga Bulldogs finally put the clamps on Omar Samhan and, essentially, Saint Mary’s.

The Bulldogs, riding a balanced offense and a defense that grew stingier as the game progressed, pulled away for an 80-61 men’s basketball victory Thursday in front of a packed house of 6,000 at the McCarthey Athletic Center.

No. 16 Gonzaga (20-4, 8-1 WCC) is back in the driver’s seat in the West Coast Conference as it pursues its 10th consecutive title. Saint Mary’s dropped to 21-4 and 8-2, with a road date against third-place Portland on Saturday. Both of the Gaels’ losses in conference have been to Gonzaga.

Samhan, much like the first meeting last month in Moraga, gave Gonzaga fits, scoring 15 points in the first half. He added four more early in the second half and his field goal at the 17-minute mark tied it at 43. The Bulldogs broke in front 52-46 after Kelly Olynyk’s layup.

The Gaels fed the ball to Samhan, who attempted a shot that 7-foot-5 center Will Foster blocked before it left Samhan’s hands. Samhan pounced on the loose ball but was called for traveling. Matt Bouldin made a 3-pointer at the other end.

With Samhan on the bench taking a brief rest, center Robert Sacre hit a putback at the other end as Gonzaga’s lead grew to 59-46. Samhan quickly returned, but Sacre rejected his shot under the basket, leading to a Bouldin bank shot and a commanding 64-50 lead with 11:40 remaining.

Elias Harris led Gonzaga with 19 points, 14 in the second half. Bouldin added 18 points and Sacre 13.