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Saint Mary’s stunned Gonzaga in a late-season thriller, led by Mikey Lewis’ scorching shooting. His career-high performance not only fueled an upset but also helped the Gaels lock up a share of the West Coast Conference regular-season crown in what will be the teams’ final conference meeting.
Lewis erupts: a career-high night from beyond the arc
Mikey Lewis delivered a breakout scoring display, finishing with a career-high 31 points. He buried seven 3-pointers on 13 attempts and played with a level of confidence that never wavered.
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- 31 points for Lewis, his most in a college game.
- 7-for-13 from long range, a dominant marksmanship night.
- He punctuated the moment with an animated postgame reaction, slapping the table as he described how special the win felt.
What the upset means for the WCC standings and seeding
The victory gave Saint Mary’s at least a share of the conference regular-season title. The Gaels celebrated the milestone as a snapshot of a rivalry that has tilted in their favor lately.
Gonzaga, despite the loss, will still enter the WCC Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed. The Bulldogs hold the tiebreaker edge thanks to sweeping Santa Clara in the regular season, while Saint Mary’s split with the Broncos.
Key seeding facts
- Saint Mary’s clinched a share of the WCC regular-season title.
- Gonzaga retains the No. 1 seed via tiebreaker over Santa Clara.
- The Gaels finished 1-1 against Santa Clara; Gonzaga went 2-0.
Late-season surge: Lewis’ form and team momentum
After a midseason lull, Lewis has ramped up his production. He has scored 20 or more points in three of his last four games.
- Strong February: he shot 39.6% from three in the month.
- Consistent scoring spike entering postseason play.
That run has given Saint Mary’s a hot hand at a critical moment, and Lewis’ confidence appears contagious across the roster.
The rivalry grows more intense as conferences realign
Saint Mary’s win marks the fifth Gaels victory in eight recent meetings with Gonzaga. The matchup has taken on extra meaning because this was their final conference clash before Gonzaga departs the WCC.
Gonzaga senior forward Graham Ike reflected on the rivalry’s weight, saying earlier wins this season were important as he nears the close of his collegiate career.
Moments that mattered
- Gaels’ recent dominance in head-to-head play has shifted momentum in the rivalry.
- Emotional stakes rose with conference realignment on the horizon.
- Individual performances like Lewis’ night can reshape narratives heading into the WCC Tournament.
