SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) a' The raucous student section at No. 2 Gonzaga's arena had undoubtedly where in fact the Zags ought to be positioned once The Associated Press' Top 25 arrives on Monday. "We are No. 1! We're No. 1!" the students yelled as the clock wound down in Gonzaga's 81-52 victory over Portland on Saturday. Instructor Mark Few was a bit more restrained, remembering the polls are out of his control. "It is never occurred here before," Few said of a No. 1 standing. "It will be a recognition. When they believe highly folks we'll just take it." But a minute later Few also betrayed some shock that the little Jesuit school from Spokane may reach the pinnacle of college basketball. "At the conclusion of your day it would be very cool for Gonzaga to be No. 1," Few said. "My first year here we won four Division I games." Elias Harris scored 20 points and Kelly Olynyk included 15 points and 11 rebounds for Gonzaga (29-2, 16-0 West Coast), which had already clinched the West Coast Conference standard season title and the very best seed in next weekend's tournament. H Bell Jr. added 14 items. Gonzaga, champion of 12 successive games since a last-second loss at Butler, has escaped the losses that have affected other clubs at or close to the top of the study in recent months. That included a reduction by top-ranked Indiana to Minnesota earlier this week that opened the entranceway for the Bulldogs. The Zags haven't been placed more than their present No. 2 position. But for their softly considered convention schedule, there is an opportunity they could be leapfrogged by a lower team in the study. Gonzaga's only other damage was at home to Illinois in December. Few famous Gonzaga's 16-0 convention record is really a first for the recently extended WCC. And no Gonzaga staff has ever won 30 games in a time. Nevertheless the purpose is not to accumulate figures, he explained. "We wish to go to the NCAA tournament and try to win the thing," Few said. Harris said he didn't care if Gonzaga was ranked No. 1. He would prefer that Gonzaga continue steadily to play in addition to it has been playing into the postseason. "Everything otherwise is talk should you choose not perform well," Harris said. Derrick Rodgers scored 10 points for Portland (11-20, 4-12), which includes lost 18 right to Gonzaga dating to 2003. "They are a very good basketball team without several, any, weaknesses," Portland instructor Eric Reveno said. "Right now, given what's going on, I do believe they should be No. 1." The regular season was concluded by the game for both groups. Gonzaga is practically guaranteed a 15th straight visit to the NCAA tournament. This one was over quickly, as the Pilots were undone by poor shooting and Gonzaga's owning inside play. The game was opened by portland with three 3-pointers to take a 9-7 lead. But Gonzaga made three 3s during a 13-0 run for a 20-9 lead. After Portland made its next 3-pointer, Gonzaga scored three straight containers, punctuated by Harris' dunk, for a 26-12 lead. Bell's 3-pointer offered Gonzaga a 31-14 lead. Baskets were traded by the teams until Olynyk scored three times inside and Harris twice during an 11-0 Gonzaga run that made 46-21 to it. Gonzaga led 46-27 at halftime, after shooting 61 per cent and taking a enormous 26-4 advantage on points in the color. Harris had 13 points and eight rebounds in the very first half. Portland shot only 30 % in the first half, but made 7 of 13 3-pointers. Olynyk opened the second half by rating Gonzaga's first three subject goals for a 53-32 cause. Bell's 3-pointer introduced a 10-1 run for a 64-37 cause. Gonzaga sent the cause 30 items with less than 9 minutes left and the Pilots did not threaten from then on. It absolutely was senior morning as Gonzaga respected Harris, Mike Hart and Guy Landry Edi. Gonzaga's 29-2 start this season is the greatest in team history, leading the 28-2 record set in 2003-04. The Zags have the best winning percentage in the country and coach Mark Few gets the best winning percentage among active instructors with at least five years' experience at 80 percent, Gonzaga is 120-8 in the McCarthey Athletic Center because it opened in 2004.
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