The San Francisco Dons were expecting a tough matchup as they hosted the No. 24 Gonzaga Bulldogs on Saturday night and they certainly got it. The WCC showdown came down to the wire, but the Dons were able to hold on for the 66-65 win to improve to 8-7 in WCC play and 18-11 overall.
USF took an early lead over Gonzaga and headed into halftime with a 36-33 lead. The Bulldogs played much better in the second half, actually outscoring the Dons by two points in the frame. The difference came down to the final seconds. The Dons trailed, 65-64, when Rashad Green nailed a jumper with three seconds left on the clock. Elias Harris missed the potential three-point buzzer beater with one second left and the Dons emerged victorious.
Harris led all scorers in the game with 21 points, adding the double-double with 10 rebounds. On the winning side, Green led Dons scorers with 16 points and five steals. Perris Blackwell added 14 points and nine rebounds.
With the loss, the Bulldogs drop to 11-3 in the WCC and 21-5 overall. The loss may very well usher them out of the top 25 on the national polls.
The Dons will play their next game on Saturday, February 25, as they host the St. Mary's Gaels.