College Basketball 2/27/10
San Francisco Dons (12-16) (WCC)-Gonzaga Bulldogs (23-5) (WCC)

By Mark-Saturday, Feb 27th 2010 8 PM EST
Line-Gonzaga-18

San Francisco gave Portland all they could handle for 30+ minutes but ultimately ran out of gas falling 70-59. The game was competitive and the stats point to no clear cut winner but one. The Pilots scored 27 points off of 19 Dons turnovers which was a whopping third of Portland's points. SF had been one of the hotter teams in the league winners of three of four and five of seven and are currently tied for 4th with LMU going into the final game of the regular season. If I had to pick which team has improved the most over last year, Loyola Marymount and SF would be neck and neck so it's fitting they are tied up. Rashad Green tossed in 16 in the loss but the Dons will need a ton of scoring to keep up tonight.

Gonzaga looked like a team on a mission when they beat Santa Clara every which way but loose, 88-51. The Bulldogs are in fact on a mission because they must win this game or St Mary's can tie them for the conference crown. They made no doubt about this one as they stormed to a 26 point lead at the break and still managed to pull away further in the final 20 minutes. If there wer a mercy rule in college basketball it probably would have been invoked 10 minutes in, that's how one sided this was. For now their 10th straight WCC title is on hold but they at least have their fate in their hands. The problem for Mark Few is figurng out how SF beat them earlier in the year.

Zags offense: 78 ppg 14 apg 39 rpg 49%
Zags defense: 67 ppg 12 apg 33 rpg 41%
SF offense: 70 ppg 13 apg 36 rpg 45%
SF defense: 72 ppg 14 apg 32 rpg 45%

I would find it hard to believe Gonzaga is not prepared with so much at stake tonight. On the same token the Dons know they have what it takes because they've beaten the Bulldogs already and are playing competitive basketball. My take is Gonzaga will be out to make a statement...