SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Kelly Olynyk scored 31 points and No. 9 Gonzaga held off Saint Mary's 83-78 on Thursday night in the latest installment of one of the best rivalries on the West Coast.
Kevin Pangos added 22 points for Gonzaga (16-1, 3-0 West Coast Conference), which has won seven straight since losing at home to Illinois. It was Olynyk's second consecutive 30-point game.
Stephen Holt led Saint Mary's (12-4, 1-1) with 23 points.
Gonzaga led by 20 early in the second half but had to stave off a furious rally by the Gaels.
Holt hit three baskets and two free throws in a 90-second span to cut Gonzaga's lead to 55-44 with 13:27 left. Two more buckets by Holt and two by Kyle Rowley made it 59-53, as the Bulldogs suddenly couldn't find the basket.
The Zags next travel to the University of Portland next Thursday, January 17th. Catch that game on KHQ at 7:00pm.
