Loyola Marymount 54 - 91 15Gonzaga
Final
  for this game

Conference-leading Gonzaga hosts lowly Loyola Marymount

Feb 19, 2009 - 3:45 PM Loyola Marymount (2-24) at No. 20 Gonzaga (19-5) 9:00 p.m. EST

SPOKANE, Washington (Ticker) -- Gonzaga is cruising toward yet another West Coast Conference championship. A meeting with one of the worst teams in the conference shouldn't slow down the Bulldogs.

The 20th-ranked Bulldogs look to remain undefeated in league play Thursday night when they host lowly Loyola Marymount.

Gonzaga (19-5, 10-0 WCC) owns a three-game lead over Portland (16-9, 7-3) atop the conference with five games remaining and appears to be in the driver's seat for its eighth straight league title.

Despite their unblemished record, the Bulldogs have been taken to the brink in their last two games.

After escaping with a two-point victory over Saint Mary's last Thursday, Gonzaga needed 17 points from Austin Daye to overcome a strong effort from undermanned San Francisco en route to a 78-73 victory Saturday.

Despite having four players suspended, including second-leading scorer Manny Quezada, San Francisco was within 61-59 when Blake Wallace hit a 3-point shot with 8 1/2 minutes left.

But Gonzaga opened a 73-60 lead when Daye hit a free throw with 3:44 left. Daye scored 13 of his team's last 19 points.

Daye and the Bulldogs should have a much easier time against the Lions (2-24, 1-9), who have lost nine of their last 10 games, including Saturday's 69-64 setback to Santa Clara.

The loss came two days after Loyola Marymount claimed its lone league win of the season with a 65-57 triumph over San Diego.






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