MORAGA, Calif., Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Elias Harris scored 31 points Thursday and No. 14 Gonzaga held on down the stretch for a key 89-82 conference win over St. Mary's.
The Bulldogs led by 14 midway through the second half but the Gaels climbed to within four in the final minute and had a chance to get closer because of Gonzaga's struggles at the free throw line.
Jorden Page tried a 3-point shot from the corner for St. Mary's with 30 seconds left that would have brought the Gaels within one but that effort failed and the Bulldogs finally closed out the game by making 5-of-6 foul shots.
Gonzaga improved to 13-3, having won five in a row since suffering a setback against Duke. The Bulldogs are 2-0 in the West Coast Conference, having survived one of the toughest road trips they will have to make in the league.
Harris made 13-of-20 shots from the field and Matt Bouldin added 22 points. Harris and Bouldin scored all the points in a 9-0 run that ended the first half and gave the Bulldogs a 45-33 lead at the break.
St. Mary's (15-3, 2-1) was led by 31 from Omar Samhan. The Gaels had won their previous five games.
