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Gonzaga Captures Tournament Title With 80-67 Win Over Saint Mary's

March 7, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - No. 12 Gonzaga captured its second straight WCC title with an 80-67 win over Saint Mary's Monday night at the Leavey Center on the campus of Santa Clara. Tournament MVP Adam Morrison scored a career-high 30 and Ronny Turiaf tied a career-high with 14 rebounds for the Bulldogs in the win. With the win, Gonzaga will receive the WCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Morrison was 12-for-21 from the field, including 5-for-5 from the free-throw line and collected five rebounds for the Zags. Turiaf added 18 points to his 14 rebounds for his 25th career double-double. Derek Raivio chipped in 16 points.

Daniel Kickert led Saint Mary's with 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, including 7-of-13 from three and 4-of-4 from the line. Paul Marigney added 20 points and 11 rebounds for the Gaels.

After the Gaels took a one-point lead into the locker room at the half, Morrison scored the first seven points of the second half for the Bulldogs to take a 41-37 lead. Gonzaga extended the lead to 11 thanks to a 17-5 run at the 9:48 mark. The Bulldogs pushed that lead to 13 after Turiaf converted a 3-point play with 5:36 to go in the game.

Gonzaga scored the first five points of the game before Kickert hit three straight 3-pointers to take over the lead at 9-5 at the 17:03 mark in the first half. Kickert then hit his fourth three of the half at the 10:07 mark to extend the lead to 10.

The Bulldogs went on an 18-9 run to cut the lead to one to close out the first half as Saint Mary's took a 35-34 lead into the locker room.

Kickert was the high-point man for the Gaels in the first half with 15 on 5-of-9 shooting from the field, including 5-of-8 from beyond the 3-point line. Morrison led Gonzaga with 11 in the first half on 4-of-8 shooting.

Gonzaga and Saint Mary's split their previous two meetings this season, with the home team winning both. With the win, the Bulldogs claim the season-series.

All-Tournament Team

Daniel Kickert - Saint Mary's
Paul Marigney - Saint Mary's
Derek Raivio - Gonzaga
J.P. Batista - Gonzaga
Adam Morrison - Gonzaga

MVP: Adam Morrison