SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Robert Sacre scored 20 points to make up for a critical mental gaffe early in the second half and No. 24 Gonzaga kept its conference title hopes alive with a 73-62 victory over Santa Clara on Thursday night.
Reserve Sam Dower added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Bulldogs, who led by only two points with 14 minutes to play before pulling away for their eighth win in nine games.
That pulled Gonzaga within one-half game of first-place Saint Mary’s in the West Coast Conference in its quest for a 12th straight regular season championship. The Bulldogs (21-4, 11-2) and 21st-ranked Gaels split their two games this season.
Evan Roquemore had 21 points for Santa Clara (8-18, 0-13), which has lost 14 straight since beating Eastern Michigan on Dec. 29.
