WCC Tourney Preview

San Diego (20-13) at No. 23 Gonzaga (25-6), 6:00 pm

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The last time Gonzaga didn't win its conference tournament, San Diego walked away with the trophy. The Bulldogs apparently haven't forgotten. No. 23 Gonzaga targets its fifth consecutive West Coast Conference tournament title on Monday when it meet the Toreros in the championship game.

Gonzaga (25-6) has won four consecutive WCC tournament titles, eight of nine and nine of the last 13, with its only blemish this decade coming against San Diego (20-13) in 2002-03 title game. Since then, the Bulldogs have defeated the Toreros 13 straight times by an average margin of more than 11 points, with only three of those games being decided by less than nine points. After routing Santa Clara, 88-54, last Monday, the Bulldogs struggled to defeat the Broncos in the semifinal game on Sunday, 52-48. Josh Heytvelt scored 15 points for Gonzaga, which will play in its 11th straight WCC tournament title game despite hitting just five shots from the field in the second half of Sunday's win.

The Bulldogs figure to meet a fatigued San Diego team, which overcame a 17-point second half deficit in a 75-69 double-overtime win over Saint Mary's late Sunday night in the other semifinal game. Brandon Johnson scored a career-high 28 points while Gyno Pomare added 22 for the Toreros, who will be making their first appearance in the WCC title game since they upset Gonzaga five seasons ago.