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'Zags zig, nip Cardinals

Matt Santangelo tells the story well.

The senior point guard for the Gonzaga Bulldogs was entering McKale Center for a shoot-around Wednesday before the NCAA West Regional when he was met by an arena employee.

"A security guard came up to us as we were coming into McKale (Center) and asked where Gonzaga was," Santangelo said. "When we told him it was in Spokane (Washington), he said 'Wow! I used to live there!'"

At least members of the NCAA basketball community can recognize the 2000 West Coast Conference champions. The Bulldogs (25-8), seeded 10th in the West, defeated seventh-seeded Louisville (19-12) 77-66 Thursday night behind the play of two of the team's seniors, Santangelo and guard Richie Frahm.

"This group is made up of a lot of winners," GU head coach Mark Few said.

Thursday night's game against Louisville lived up to the hype as the best game of the first round in Tucson.

Both teams traded blows in the first half as Frahm's 3-pointer knotted the score at 17 with just over 12 minutes left in the first half.

The Cardinals then battled back, taking a seven-point lead on junior Rashaad Brooks' 3-pointer with 6:01 left.

But Santangelo's hot hand brought the Bulldogs within one point at halftime. The senior finished the half with eight points and three rebounds, leading the 'Zags' offensive attack.

Gonzaga shot 59 percent from the field in the first half, compared to Louisville's 46.

Gonzaga started to pull away from the Cardinals midway through the second half.

After having a pass stolen, Frahm hustled to catch up on defense, then blocked an ensuing dunk and went back and hit a 3-pointer on the opposite end.

After a technical foul was called on the Louisville bench, the 'Zags took a 53-48 lead and didn't look back, winning the game by 11 points.

Many considered Frahm's block/three pointer to be the turning point in the game.

"We're not gonna' give them any open lanes," Frahm said. "That was an important point in the game."

Louisville shot just 37.5 percent from the field in the game and only 28.1 percent in the second half.

Louisville coach Denny Crum quoted his mentor, former UCLA coach John Wooden, in response to the Cardinals' shooting woes.

"Coach Wooden once said that, all things being equal, the team that shoots better will win the game," Crum said. "They just shot better than we did."

In defeating the Cardinals, the Bulldogs became the first West Coast Conference team to win tournament games in back-to-back seasons since 1979. "It's nice to get the first win," Santangelo said. "We have a chip on our shoulder. We're trying to prove that last year's (team) wasn't a good team as much as we have a good program here at Gonzaga."

Frahm and Santangelo combined for 47 points in the winning effort "He (Frahm) was tremendous," Santangelo said. The 'Zags played the game without senior guard Mike Nilson, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in the first round of the West Coast Conference tournament and is lost for the rest of the season.

"He has been a big part of our program for five years," Few said. "He is like the walking poster boy for what Gonzaga is all about. He has been an inspiration."

Wildcat reporter Chris Jackson also contributed to this story.