Top-Ranked Gonzaga Overpowers Saint Mary’s, 82-69, In Vegas To Win WCC Title Tuesday
Story by Alan Snel Photos by J. Tyge O’Donnell
Every time a fan sat in front of her at the Gonzaga-St. Mary’s college hoops game at Orleans Arena the friendly woman from Boise, Idaho warned the guy in front of her: “I’m loud.”
Which is kind like T-Mobile Arena saying our sound system is loud at Vegas Golden Knights games.
Every time a St. Mary’s player took a shot at the hoop, the Boise yelled, “No, no, no.” And every time a Zags player took a shot, it was “Yes, yes, yes.”
Her enthusiasm was admirable. And really, the entire gym is hardly a neutral court when you consider Gonzaga fans packed the comfy Orleans venue where the top-ranked Bulldogs led by 10 at halftime and held off this spunky St. Mary’s squad in the second half to win the West Coast Championship title.
After the Zags won, 82-69, Gonzaga will likely be a number one seed in the Big Dance, the national hoops tournament.
Las Vegas — and even Henderson — is crawling with college basketball games as the WCC tourney was one of five this week to roll out the ball with NCAA tourney bids at stake.
The Gonzaga fan from Boise is an Arizona grad from the Lute Olson/Steve Kerr era, so she’s going to see that team in action during the Pac-12 tourney at T-Mobile Arena.
Tonight also marked the first ticketed event at the new Foley arena in Henderson, officially known as Dollar Loan Center (the arena, not the short-term loan business chain). The Big West has moved its conference tourney to the 6,000-seat arena near The District in Green Valley Ranch.
The arena’s first game matched Cal State Bakersfield against Cal State Northridge before a sparse crowd at the arena that will be used next month by the Henderson Silver Knights minor league hockey team.
Over in the Mountain West tourney at Thomas & Mack Center, the Lady Rebels defeated Air Force, 61-50, to move into the women’s final game. UNLV’s women’s team is the top seed in the Mountain West tourney and will play for the league title at 7PM Wednesday at The Mack on the UNLV campus.
And as for the men, the Runnin’ Rebels play Wyoming Thursday at 2:30 PM in their first game of the MW tournament.
And don’t forget the WAC — that league is off and running at Michelob Ultra Arena in Mandalay Bay.
Five tournaments in Vegas at-five arenas: Orleans, Thomas & Mack, Michelob Ultra, Dollar Loan Center and T-Mobile.
PSA
