Gonzaga-Saint Mary’s: 3 keys to the Bulldogs’ 69-55 victory over the Gaels

Key moment

The Zags led 47-40 in the second half, but they were in the midst of a 4-minute dry spell. Jordan Ford scored on a tough hanging layup, cutting the deficit to five, but Clarke swatted Ford’s next two attempts at the rim. Saint Mary’s scored just one field goal in the next 10 minutes as the Zags pulled away with a 17-0 run.

Offensive MVP

Josh Perkins looked for his shot more, and often it found the mark. The senior point guard produced a team-high 19 points on 7 of 15 attempts. He made all five of his free throws. Several of Perkins’ baskets answered Saint Mary’s field goals. He finished with two assists and one turnover in 35 minutes.

Defensive MVP

Clarke dominated the game at the defensive end for most of the second half. His two blocks on Ford helped trigger Gonzaga’s decisive run. His presence inside also influenced several misses by the Gaels’ forwards and centers. Clarke finished with four blocks and seven boards.