Live-Blogging: West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball-Gonzaga Bulldogs at St. Mary’s (CA) Gaels 02/04/2023

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball’. Tonight, it is a West Coast Conference Men’s Basketball game, between Gonzaga Bulldogs and St. Mary’s Gaels.

Bulldogs are struggling by their standards. They are a game behind the Gaels for the Top
Spot in the West Coast Conference. It has been the Drew Timme Show for the Zags. As he leads the Spokane Catholic Institution in scoring, rebounding, and assists. With their pedigree in the past couple of decades they should be able to get into the Tournament as a 4 seed, if they are an at-large bid.

The Gaels need to win the WCC Tournament to get at least a #4 seed. For that to happen they need to get either top 2 seeds. They are in good shape, as they started conference play undefeated. And they host Gonzaga, who they defeated last year.

Gaels are led by Aidan Mahaney in scoring. Mitchell Saxen leads St. Mary’s in rebounding. And Logan Johnson leads the Moraga Catholic College in assists.

It is Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Gaels

Possible Starting Lineups:
Gonzaga Bulldogs:
G: R. Bolton
G: J. Strawther
G: N. Hickman
F: A. Watson
F: D. Timme

St. Mary’s (CA) Gaels:
G: L. Johnson
G: A. Ducas
G: A. Mahaney
F: K. Bowen
C: M. Saxen​

Gonzaga Bulldogs Game Notes

St. Mary’s College of California Gaels

Zags are  in their black uniforms. While Gaels are in their red uniforms.

1st Half:
20:00: Zags win tipoff. Gonzaga will attack the left basket. While St. Mary's will attack the right basket and have the possession arrow in their favor.
19:30: Ducas with a layup. ZAGS 0, SMC 2
18:45: Strawther with a layup and foul. Strawther makes a free throw. ZAGS 3, SMC 2
17:56: Saxen with a layup. ZAGS 3, SMC 4
17:32: Timme gets a layup. ZAGS 5, SMC 4
16:44: Hickman buries a 3-point FG. ZAGS 8, SMC 4
15:30: T.V. Timeout #1: ZAGS 8, SMC 4

Back in January 2021, I Live-Blogged Zags 73-59 Victory Over Gaels

​15:30: Timme makes both free throws. ZAGS 10, SMC 4
14:31: M. Smith gets a FG. ZAGS 12, SMC 4
14:11: L. Johnson with a layup. ZAGS 12, SMC 6
13;53: Bolton gets a jump shot. ZAGS 14, SMC 6
13:07: Timme gets a layup. ZAGS 16, SMC 6
12:47: Ducas with a layup. ZAGS 16, SMC 8
12:25: Gregg drains a 3-point FG. ZAGS 19, SMC 8
11:56: T.V. Timeout #2: ZAGS 19, SMC 8
​

11:07: Saxen with a rebound and a tipin, ZAGS 19, SMC 10
9:09: Sallis gets a FG. ZAGS 21, SMC 10
8:52: Bowen drains a 3-point FG. ZAGS 21, SMC 13
8:19: Watson makes a jam. ZAGS 23, SMC 13
8:03: Jefferson buries a Gaels 3-point FG. ZAGS 23, SMC 16
7:49: Strawther gets a jumpshot. ZAGS 25, SMC 16
7:04: Watson makes a FG. ZAGS 27, SMC 16
6:58: Mahaney gets a layup. ZAGS 27, SMC 18
6:27: T.V. Timeout #3: ZAGS 27, SMC 18

NCAA MBK Top 25 Scores:

​5:48: Saxen gets a layup. ZAGS 27,  SMC 20
4:55: Zags are in the Bonus.
4:55: Strawther makes 1 of 2 free throws. ZAGS 28, SMC 20
3:19: Timme makes a hook shot. ZAGS 30, SMC 20
2:55: Mahaney with a layup. ZAGS 30, SMC 22
2:24: T.V. Timeout #4: ZAGS 30, SMC 22

​1:15: Sallis missed a free throw. 
:58.7: Wessels gets a hook shot and a foul. Wessel missed a free throw. ZAGS 30, SMC 24
:42: Watson makes both free throws. ZAGS 32, SMC 24
:19.6: ZAGS TIMEOUT #1: ZAGS 32, SMC 24
:00: The End of 1st Half. Gaels to inbound to start the 2nd Half.

Halftime:
ZAGS 32, SMC 24 

Halftime Leaders:
Scoring: Timme (ZAGS) 8 points
Rebounding: 3 Gaels with 4 rebounds
Assists: L. Johnson (SMC) 2 assists

Halftime Thoughts:
Zags able to shoot the basketball and get to the foul line. 

NCAA MBK Top 25 Scores:

2nd Half:
20:00: Gaels to inbound to start the 2nd Half. St. Mary's to attack the left basket. While Gonzaga to attack the right basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor. 
19:33: L. Johnson makes a layup. ZAGS 32, SMC 26
17:57: Timme gets a hook shot and foul. Timme missed a free throw. ZAGS 34, SMC 26
17:40: L. Johnson makes 1 of 2 free throws. ZAGS 34, SMC 27
16:22: Timme hits a hook shot. ZAGS 36, SMC 27
16:01: Ducas nails a 3-point FG. ZAGS 36, SMC 30
15:32: Timme gets a FG. ZAGS 38, SMC 30
15:16: T.V. Timeout #5: ZAGS 38, SMC 30

​15:16: Saxen makes both free throws. ZAGS 38, SMC 32
14:30: Ducas nails a 3-point FG. ZAGS 38, SMC 35
13:00: M. Smith gets a floating jump shot. ZAGS 40, SMC 35
12:37: Logan Johnson commits his 3rd personal foul.
12:37: Bolton makes both free throws. ZAGS 42, SMC 35
12:01: GAELS TIMEOUT #1: ZAGS 42, SMC 35
11:49: ​Logan Johnson commits his 4th personal foul.
11:49: T.V. Timeout #6: ZAGS 42, SMC 35

NCAA MBK Top 25 Scores:

​11:37: Hickman makes 1 of 2 free throws. ZAGS 43, SMC 35
11:18: Gregg commits his 3rd personal foul.
11:18: Marciulioinis hits both free throws. ZAGS 43, SMC 37
10:59: Aiden Mahaney commits his 4th personal foul. 
10:25: Timme makes an underhand layup. ZAGS 45, SMC 37
10:00: L. Johnson makes both free throws. ZAGS 45, SMC 39
9:35: Both teams are in the Bonus.
9:22: Bowen missed a free throw.
9:12: Gaels are in the Double Bonus.
8:52: M. Smith with a layup. ZAGS 47, SMC 39
8:37: Saxen makes both free throws. ZAGS 47, SMC 41
8:13: M. Smith makes both free throws. ZAGS 49, SMC 41
7:30: T.V. Timeout #7: ZAGS 49, SMC 41

​7:08: L.Johnson makes a jump shot. ZAGS 49, SMC 43
6:49: Watson gets a jump shot. ZAGS 51, SMC 43
6:26: Mahaney gets a jump shot and foul. Mahaney gets a free throw. ZAGS 51, SMC 46 
5:31: ZAGS TIMEOUT #2: ZAGS 51, SMC 49
5:04: M. Smith with a FG. ZAGS 53, SMC 51
4:51: L. Johnson fouled out of the Game.
4:51: Timme makes both free throws. ZAGS 55, SMC 51
4:30: Mahaney gets a FG. ZAGS 55, SMC 53
4:17: Timme with a layup. ZAGS 57, SMC 53
4:02: Mahaney wtih a layup. ZAGS 57, SMC 55
3:22: Mahaney with a layup. ZAGS 57, SMC 57
3:22: ZAGS TIMEOUT #3: ZAGS 57, SMC 57
​
2:23: Strawther makes a jump shot. ZAGS 59, SMC 57
1:38: Mahaney with a FG. ZAGS 59, SMC 59
1:13: Timme commits an offensive foul. His 4th personal foul. 
1:13: GAELS TIMEOUT #2: ZAGS 59, SMC 59
:49.3: Jump Ball! Gonzaga Ball! St. Mary's will have the possession arrow, in their favor.
:49.3: ZAGS FINAL TIMEOUT: ZAGS 59, SMC 59
:33.8: Strawther makes a jump shot. ZAGS 61, SMC 59
:19.0: GAELS FINAL TIMEOUT: ZAGS 61, SMC 59
:05.5: Saxen makes a layup. ZAGS 61, SMC 61
:00: Strawther missed a 3-point FG. The Game is headed to overtime. 

End of Regulation:
ZAGS 61, SMC 61

Overtime:
​5:00: Zags win tipoff. Gonzaga continue to attack the right basket. While St. Mary's to attack the left basket and have the possession arrow, in their favor.
4:39: Timme makes 1 of 2 free throw. ZAGS 62, SMC 61
4:24: Ducas makes a layup. ZAGS 62, SMC 63
3:37: Marciulionis with a layup. ZAGS 62, SMC 65
3:25: Both teams are in the Double Bonus.
3:25: Timme makes both free throws. ZAGS 64, SMC 65
3:11: Mahaney hits a bank shot 3-point FG. ZAGS 64, SMC 68
2:32: Saxen with a layup. ZAGS 64, SMC 70
2:32: ZAGS TIMEOUT: ZAGS 64, SMC 70
2:14: Saxen makes 1 of 2 free throws. ZAGS 64, SMC 71
1:58: Mitchell Saxen gets fouled out of the Game.
1:58: Strawther missed both free throws. 
1:16: Hickman buries a 3-point FG. ZAGS 67, SMC 71
:41.5; Hickman missed a layup. But he is down and injured his ankle. He was able to get back up from the floor.
:40.5: Marciulionis hits both free throws. ZAGS 67, SMC 73
:26.6: GAELS TIMEOUT: ZAGS 67, SMC 73
:24.9: Ducas makes both free throws. ZAGS 67, SMC 75
:18.5: M. Smith makes a 3-point FG. ZAGS 70, SMC 75
:12.9: Bowen makes a jam. ZAGS 70, SMC 77
:12.9: Marciulionis hits 1 of 2 free throws. ZAGS 70, SMC 78
:00: The End of Game.

Final:
ZAGS 70, SMC 78
ZAGS: (19-5, 8-2 WCC)
SMC: (21-4, 10-0 WCC)

Final Leaders:
Scoring: Timme (ZAGS) 23 points
Rebounding: Saxen (SMC) 11 rebounds
Assists: Mahaney/L.Johnson (SMC) 3 assists

Final Thoughts:
Zags had control of this game. But after the Under-8 Timeout Aiden Mahaney took over the Game. He led the Gaels with 18 points, 3 assists.

St. Mary's won this game due to their rebounding. Gaels outrebounded the Bulldogs 37-30. 

For the Bulldogs, it was Drew Timme and that was it. Julian Strawther was the only other Zag who scored double figures in this game.

With the victory, Gaels have a 2 game lead on Gonzaga for the top spot of the West Coast Conference.

Gonzaga will head back to Spokane, to face the Dons of San Francisco. While St. Mary's will head to LA, to face Loyola Marymount. Both games will happen on Thursday.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on College Basketball'. Thanks for visiting this post.