March 6, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Adam Morrison scored a game-high 25 and J.P. Batista added 24 to lead No. 13 Gonzaga (24-4, 12-2 WCC) to a 90-74 win over San Diego (16-13, 7-7 WCC) in the semi-finals of the WCC Championships at the Leavey Center on the campus of Santa Clara Sunday night. With the win, Gonzaga will make its eighth straight trip to the WCC Championship finals Monday night.

Batista recorded his fourth career double-double in the win, adding 10 rebounds to his 24 points. Batista was 8-for-9 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the free-throw line for the game.

Floyd North, III led four San Diego players in double-digits with 16. Brandon Gay and Nick Lewis each added 15, and Brice Vounang recorded 10 points and nine rebounds for the Toreros.

Gonzaga took the lead at 20-18 midway through the first half on a Derek Raivio 3-pointer and never trailed again in the game. The Bulldogs took a 54-33 lead into the locker room at the half and extended the lead to as many as 28 early in the second half.

San Diego went on a 14-4 run to cut the lead to 18 at the 5:07 mark, but the Zags seemed to have an answer to everything the Toreros were doing.

WCC Player of the Year Ronny Turiaf was held scoreless in the first half after being forced to sit all but five minutes after committing his second foul with 18:11 left in the half. Turiaf finished with two points.

Morrison was the high-point man in the first half for Gonzaga with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. Batista added 16 on 5-of-5 shooting, including 5-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Gay scored a team-high 13 for the Toreros in the first half on 5-of-10 shooting from the field.

Gonzaga tied a season-high, shooting 65.6 percent from the floor in the first half, including 63.6 percent from beyond the 3-point line. The 90 points for the game also marks the sixth time this season Gonzaga has scored at least 90.

Gonzaga ended the first half on an 18-7 run to enter the locker room with a 21-point lead.

The Bulldogs will face the winner of the second semi-final, which features an all Bay Area match-up between Saint Mary's and the host Broncos from Santa Clara. The finals will air live on ESPN at 9:00 p.m.