Perkins leads Zags past Santa Clara

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – It is never easy for Gonzaga inside the Leavey Center and that was the case again Friday. The Zags relied on freshman point guard Josh Perkins’ career-high 26 points and his smarts in the closing seconds to hold off Santa Clara 79-77. Perkins’ biggest play might have been missing a free throw intentionally with 2.5 seconds left and then alertly grabbing the rebound in the middle of the lane. By the time he was fouled, there was just 0.4 on the clock. He made the first free throw and missed the second on purpose as a SCU desperation shot from 85 feet fell short at the buzzer. Gonzaga, which has had a string of tight games at the Leavey Center, improved to 11-3, 3-0 in the WCC. SCU dropped to 4-11, 0-3. On a day center Przemek Karnowski had season-ending back surgery, the Zags have another injury concern. Kyle Wiltjer limped off the court in the final minutes and didn’t return. Wiltjer had 20 points and Eric McClellan added 15. Gonzaga looked like it might run away from the Broncos as Wiltjer struck for 12 points in the first 9:30, helping the Zags build a 23-11 lead. The Broncos responded with a 16-2 burst, fueled by Jared Brownridge. The junior guard finished the half with 16 points and he was hitting shots whether he was open or tightly guarded. On consecutive plays, McClellan was in good defensive position and Brownridge created just enough space to bury two contested jumpers. Gonzaga regained the lead on a Perkins’ 3-pointer and opened up a 38-33 on a Domantas Sabonis free throw, his first point of the half. Santa Clara charged back on 6-11 reserve Henrik Jadersten’s trey from the corner and a Matt Hauser pull-up jumper in the lane. Sabonis’ first field goal put Gonzaga ahead 40-38 at the break.