The University Credit Union Pavilion in Moraga, California, was absolutely buzzing on February 28, 2026, as Saint Mary’s delivered a rousing 70-59 victory over No. 9 Gonzaga, clinching a share of the West Coast Conference (WCC) regular-season title and extending their home winning streak to a remarkable 26 games. The Gaels, now 27-4 overall and 16-2 in conference play, have become a true powerhouse, earning their fourth consecutive WCC title—a feat never before accomplished in program history. For the Zags, who drop to 28-3 and 16-2 in the WCC, the loss stings even more as it marks their final regular-season game before departing for the rebuilt Pac-12 next season.
This matchup was more than just another chapter in a storied rivalry; it was a statement. Both teams entered the contest with identical conference records, and with Gonzaga having already secured the No. 1 seed for the upcoming WCC tournament, Saint Mary’s was determined not to let their rivals walk away with the outright crown. The Gaels’ effort was led by sophomore guard Mikey Lewis, who exploded for a career-high 31 points, draining seven 3-pointers and electrifying both the packed house and the national ESPN audience. "I was ready to go in the second half and we pulled one out," Lewis said in a postgame TV interview. He added, "They brought all the energy tonight. We were a little flat in the first half and they came out … they made it a great for us. They made a great environment."
Saint Mary’s trailed 36-29 at halftime, struggling to find their shooting touch while Gonzaga’s Graham Ike dominated early, pouring in 13 first-half points and helping the Bulldogs to a 22-18 rebounding edge. The Gaels shot just 29% from the field in the opening period, though they managed to keep things close thanks to seven made 3-pointers—four of them from freshman Mantas Juzenas, who entered the night averaging just 1.7 points per game. Juzenas finished with a career-best 12 points, all in the first half, providing a crucial spark when the rest of the team was struggling to get shots to fall.
The real fireworks, though, came after the break. Saint Mary’s came out of the locker room with a vengeance, unleashing a 13-2 run to erase the deficit and seize control. Point guard Joshua Dent, who would finish with 14 points, knocked down a pair of 3-pointers to help fuel the comeback. Lewis then put the Gaels ahead with two free throws and followed up with a deep three for a 42-38 lead. The crowd could feel the momentum shift—and so could Gonzaga. The Bulldogs managed to tie the game at 44, but Saint Mary’s responded with a 10-0 burst, capped by threes from Lewis and Paulius Murauskas, surging ahead 54-44 with just under nine minutes to play.
From there, the Gaels never looked back. Gonzaga, despite their pedigree and talent, never got closer than six points the rest of the way. The Bulldogs were hampered by foul trouble, with star forward Graham Ike fouling out with 3:45 left after scoring just four of his 17 points in the second half. Adam Miller added 14 points and Tyon Grant-Foster chipped in 13 for the Zags, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Saint Mary’s relentless attack from deep. The Gaels finished a blistering 16-for-33 from three-point range, outscoring Gonzaga 48-15 from beyond the arc. Gonzaga, by contrast, managed just 5-for-17 from distance—a telling stat that underscored the Gaels’ dominance on the perimeter.
Saint Mary’s also won the battle on the boards, pulling down 42 rebounds to Gonzaga’s 37, with freshman Dillan Shaw grabbing a game-high 10. Murauskas, who struggled mightily in the first half, came alive late to finish with nine points and eight rebounds. The Gaels’ defensive intensity was palpable, especially in the second half when they held Gonzaga to just 23 points and 30% shooting from the field. The Bulldogs’ frustration boiled over at times, with both Grant-Foster and Murauskas receiving technical fouls after a heated exchange in the first half.
The significance of this win can’t be overstated. Not only did it give Saint Mary’s a share of the conference title for the fourth straight year, but it also marked their eighth consecutive victory and improved their head-to-head record against Gonzaga to 6-5 since the start of the 2022-23 season. The two programs have utterly dominated the WCC for more than two decades, combining to win or share the league crown for 27 consecutive seasons. Gonzaga, under longtime head coach Mark Few, has claimed 23 of those titles, but Saint Mary’s has closed the gap in recent years under coach Randy Bennett.
After the final buzzer, the atmosphere inside University Credit Union Pavilion was pure jubilation. Players cut down the nets as Queen’s "We Are the Champions" blared over the loudspeakers, while Bennett and Few—facing off for the 72nd time—shared a handshake and embrace at center court. The scene captured both the intensity of the rivalry and the mutual respect between two of college basketball’s most consistent programs.
Looking ahead, both teams will enjoy byes into the WCC tournament semifinals, scheduled for March 9 in Las Vegas. Gonzaga, as the top seed, retains a slight edge, but Saint Mary’s will enter the postseason brimming with confidence and momentum. The Gaels’ remarkable home winning streak, their ability to rally from adversity, and the emergence of young stars like Lewis and Juzenas have set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling conference tournament—and perhaps an even deeper run in March Madness.
For now, though, Saint Mary’s faithful can savor a night when their team stood tall, denied Gonzaga the satisfaction of an outright title, and sent a message to the rest of the college basketball world: The Gaels are for real, and their championship dreams are very much alive.