NCAA basketball

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Down the stretch of the West Coast Conference season, we try to take a few data points into consideration when evaluating key matchup options.

DALLAS – The way Isaac Jones sees it, he’s getting to experience twice the fun of professional basketball.

Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman just finished answering a question on playing in their final home game when Nembhard offered an unsolicited reminder that Gonzaga isn't short on motivation with the regular season winding down. “We still got a season left to play."

Now beyond objective debate: Saint Mary’s has taken over as the West Coast Conference powerhouse.

Here are three observations from Gonzaga’s 74-67 West Coast Conference loss to Saint Mary’s on Saturday night at McCarthey Athletic Center.

PULLMAN – After a lopsided loss earlier this week, Washington State coach David Riley considered all manner of factors that could remedy the issues that plagued his team.

Mikey Lewis may still be coming off the bench two weeks from now at the West Coast Conference Tournament, but the Saint Mary’s freshman is likely to climb a few more spots on Gonzaga’s scouting report if the longtime rivals find themselves in another high-stakes matchup in Las Vegas.

The bubble might have burst for the Washington men’s basketball team.

After the loss has sunk in, the Gonzaga women’s basketball team will look back on Senior Day with fondness.

Northern Colorado’s combo of Isaiah Hawthorne and Langston Reynolds proved too much for the Idaho Vandals men’s basketball team, which lost to the Bears 92-74 Saturday in Greeley, Colorado.

From staff reports

PULLMAN – The Washington State women’s basketball team used a strong second quarter to roll past Saint Mary’s 72-62 in West Coast Conference play on Saturday at Beasley Coliseum.

There were seniors celebrating at Gonzaga's McCarthey Athletic Center on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, they were wearing Saint Mary's uniforms.

It wasn’t an exact replay of the first Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s game, but there were so many similarities in Saturday’s rematch. Another slow start by the Zags, who were down 11 points before they scored. Another dominating effort on the boards by the Gaels. Another big night from SMC freshman guard Mikey Lewis behind the 3-point line. Another tight game in crunch time where Gonzaga was outplayed.

PULLMAN – Washington State may not make the NCAA Tournament this season, its hopes of a second consecutive at-large berth dying weeks ago amid this midseason spiral, but the Cougars still have a few things to play for.

If there’s a realignment wave in the 2030s, which Big 12 schools might be attractive?

Usually a team needs little motivation when it comes to Senior Day.

It’s round two for Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s with all the usual West Coast Conference and NCAA Tournament implications at stake and an extra helping of emotion on top, courtesy of GU’s Senior Night. Not to mention the potential historical significance.

A big-time matchup requires a big key matchup.