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Gonzaga looks to clinch WCC regular-season title

Mar 3, 2008 - 6:57 PM Santa Clara (14-14) at No. 23 Gonzaga (23-6) 11:30 pm EST

SPOKANE, Washington (Ticker) - Mark Few and Gonzaga need another win to claim another regular-season title in the West Coast Conference.

Few's 23rd-ranked Bulldogs can clinch their sixth straight WCC outright regular-season title Monday with a victory over Santa Clara.

Gonzaga (23-6, 12-1 WCC) has clinched at least a share of seven regular-season conference crowns since Few was hired prior to the 1999-2000 campaign.

The Bulldogs took an important step toward another WCC championship Saturday with an 88-76 triumph over then-No. 23 Saint Mary's, a win which moved Gonzaga one game ahead of the Gaels (11-2) in the conference standings.

"It was a great basketball game," Few said. "Both teams played really, really well. It was the makings of a championship game.

"We got great efforts out of everybody at all different angles. Everybody that hit the floor did what they were supposed to do."

Gonzaga can complete the regular-season championship Monday with a win over the Broncos (14-14, 6-7), who dropped a double-overtime decision February 2 in the first meeting this season between the teams.

Even with a loss to Santa Clara, the Bulldogs can clinch the title if Saint Mary's loses to Portland in another Monday night matchup.

Leading scorer Matt Bouldin had 21 points and seven rebounds Saturday to pace Gonzaga, which has won six straight games and 14 of its last 16.

Santa Clara has lost fours of its last six contests, including Saturday's 64-58 setback at Portland.

Mitch Henke matched a season high with 21 points for the Broncos, who own a 30-37 all-time record against the Bulldogs.