LAS VEGAS — David Stockton sank the game-winning layup with 2 seconds left Saturday night to lift top-seeded Gonzaga past No. 9 seed Santa Clara in the West Coast Conference tournament quarterfinals 77-75.
Trailing much of the game, Gonzaga (26-6) retook the lead late in the second half on a Sam Dower layup that made it 68-67 with 2:52 to go. Santa Clara (14-19) tied the score again at 75 on a Jared Brownridge jumper with 10 seconds left, setting up Stockton’s coast-to-coast drive for the game-winner.
Dower finished the night with 23 points, and tied a WCC championship record by hitting 15 of 15 from the free throw line. Przemek Karnowski contributed 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Gary Bell Jr. had 13 points for the Bulldogs, who shot 53 percent from the field.
Gonzaga will play the winner of tonight’s Saint Mary’s-Pepperdine game in the semifinals on Monday.
