No. 1 Gonzaga returns to WCC final

LAS VEGAS — Drew Timme scored 27 points, Chet Holmgren added 17, and top-ranked Gonzaga reached the West Coast Conference championship game for the 25th straight year by holding off San Francisco 81-71 Monday night.

The Zags (25-3) worked the ball into the paint early and often, pushing around the smaller Dons while racing to a 24-point second-half lead.

The Dons (24-9) mounted a late comeback, pulling within eight while holding Gonzaga without a field goal over the final 5:33.

Gonzaga made four free throws down the stretch to win its 14th straight opening WCC tournament game. Andrew Nembhard had 17 points and nine assists while leading Gonzaga’s offense. Holmgren had seven rebounds and blocked six shots.

Khalil Shabazz scored nine of his 27 points during a 13-2 run that got San Francisco back in it, and Julian Rishwain added 20.

Coach Todd Golden has led a quick turnaround at San Francisco, putting the Dons on the cusp of their first NCAA Tournament since 1998 in his third season.

San Francisco is No. 24 in the NCAA’s NET rankings and is one of the nation’s best 3-point shooting teams, led by the sharp-shooting Jamaree Bouyea.

The Zags lead the nation in scoring, are third in defensive field goal percentage and won the two regular-season meetings by 16 points each.