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After narrow win, Gonzaga visits slumping San Francisco

Feb 14, 2009 - 11:30 AM No. 21 Gonzaga (18-5) at San Francisco (9-16) 11:00 p.m. EST

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Gonzaga barely escaped with a win during its last game. The Bulldogs shouldn't have nearly as much trouble against the West Coast Conference's bottom-feeder.

Gonzaga looks to remain undefeated in conference play on Saturday when it visits lowly San Francisco.

Matt Bouldin scored 21 points and Josh Heytvelt had 20 and 10 rebounds as the Bulldogs (18-5, 9-0 WCC) held on for a 72-70 victory over Saint Mary's on Thursday.

After taking a seven-point lead with 4:11 remaining, Carlin Hughes made a pair of 3-pointers in the final minute, including a desperation banked shot from the right side of the arc, which cut Gonzaga's lead to 71-70 with 9.9 seconds remaining.

Bouldin missed a pair of free throws but the Gaels turned the ball over on an inbounds play near halfcourt with five seconds left. Jeremy Pargo made one of two to give the Bulldogs a two-point lead and Hughes' 3-point attempt from the midcourt line clanged off the backboard, lifting Gonzaga to victory.

A much more comfortable win should be in store against the Dons (9-16, 1-9), who endured their third straight loss during a 72-67 setback to Portland on Thursday.

San Francisco was without second-leading scorer Manny Quezada, senior center James Morgan, junior center Hyman Taylor and freshman guard Chioke Walker after coach Rex Walters suspended them indefinitely for what he termed "not complying with his instructions during practice."

Dior Lowhorn, the conference's leading scorer who is averaging 20.0 points per game, poured in 24 points against Portland, but it wasn't enough for San Francisco to avoid its ninth loss in 10 games.