No. 1 Gonzaga wins 10th straight WCC regular-season title

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It was senior night for top-ranked Gonzaga, and seniors Andrew Nembhard and Rasir Bolton helped deliver a hard-fought 81-69 victory over Santa Clara on Saturday.

Nembhard scored 21 points, including a pair of late 3-pointers that iced it, and Bolton contributed 18 points.

"It was good for them to step up and make plays like that," coach Mark Few said, adding that Nembhard was "delivering big time."

Drew Timme had 23 points and nine rebounds and Gonzaga won its 10th straight West Coast Conference regular-season title.

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Gonzaga forward Drew Timme (2) celebrates his 3-point basket during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Santa Clara, Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022, in Spokane, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)

"It means even more this year," Few said. "The league is the best it's been since I've been here."

With the WCC possibly sending four teams to the NCAA Tournament this year, "to be undefeated is quite an accomplishment," Few said.

Gonzaga (23-2, 12-0) won its 16th consecutive game and its 67th straight home game, a streak that dates to 2018 and is the longest in the nation. The Zags are the current front-runner for the top seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Freshman Chet Holmgren added 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots for Gonzaga.

PJ Pipes scored 27 points and Jalen Williams 15 for Santa Clara (18-10, 8-5), which ranks third in the WCC. The team is fighting for Santa Clara's first postseason tournament berth since 2013.

"Pipes is really, really playing well," Few said. "He hit a lot of tough shots."

The 12-point margin of victory was the lowest of the season in a