One Gonzaga team has advanced and one has fallen in the NCAA’s March Madness college basketball championships.The top-ranked Gonzaga men’s basketball team advanced Monday to the Sweet Sixteen with an 87-71 win over Oklahoma. The Sooners got hot early and led the Bulldogs by eight early in the first half. But the Zags Improved their defense and their shooting and took the lead. They extended that lead to 12 by halftime. In the second half, they maintained the lead and went on to a fairly comfortable win. All-American Drew Timme led the Bulldogs with 30 points and 13 rebounds.
Gonzaga is now 28-0 and looking to become the first men’s college team to have an undefeated season and win a title since Bobby Knight’s 1976 Indiana Hoosiers. They'll next play the Creighton Bluejays on Sunday in the Sweet Sixteen round. Creighton defeated Ohio University, 72-58, on Monday.
Different story for the Gonzaga women, who lost 64-59 to the Belmont Bruins Monday afternoon. The Zags led by nine after the first quarter. But they were outscored by 17 in the middle two quarters and had to rally in the fourth to give themselves a chance at the end. They fell just short. The West Coast Conference champions finish their season 23-4.
Two other Northwest teams with Spokane ties are still alive in their respective tournaments. The Oregon women, who are coached by former Gonzaga coach Kelly Graves, play their first-round game Monday evening at 7 against the University of South Dakota Coyotes. The Oregon State men, coached by Spokane native Wayne Tinkle, won their first two games in the tournament, Friday over Tennessee, Sunday over Oklahoma State. The Beavers will play Loyola Chicago in the Sweet Sixteen round.
Meanwhile, the Oregon men defeated Iowa, 95-80, on Monday to also advance to the Sweet Sixteen.