LAS VEGAS — — Sash Gavalyugov scored 23 factors together with a back-breaking 3-pointer to steer Santa Clara to a 76-71 victory over No. 21 Saint Mary’s within the semifinals of the West Coast Conference Tournament on Monday night time to take a giant step towards making the Big Dance.
The Broncos (26-7) will play No. 12 Gonzaga (29-3) within the championship sport on Tuesday night time. The winner receives the convention’s computerized bid to the NCAA Tournament.
While the Bulldogs are safely within the match, Santa Clara was thought-about on the bubble. The Broncos entered this sport No. 42 within the NCAA’s NET rankings and No. 37 in Kenpom.
Saint Mary’s (27-5) might take a success within the match seeding, however the Gaels determine to get into the sphere of 68. They had been No. 20 within the NET and No. 22 in KenPom.
This is the primary time since 2021 that the WCC last hasn’t been between Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s.
Santa Clara coach Herb Sendek claimed his 600th profession victory, a considerably delicate upset over the Gaels, who had been favored by 5 1/2 factors at Sportsbook.
Elijah Mahi added 19 factors for the Broncos and Allen Graves completed with 10.
Paulius Murauskas scored 26 factors to steer Saint Mary’s, Mikey Lewis had 23 and Andrew McKeever totaled 11 factors and 11 rebounds.
There had been 14 lead adjustments and 6 ties, and the most important benefit by both crew was seven factors.
The Broncos had been clinging to a two-point lead within the closing seconds, and Gavalyugov drained a 3-pointer with 12.1 seconds left to beat the shot clock. A shot that put Santa Clara in its first WCC last since 2007.
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