SPOKANE — Marquise Carter scored a career-high 20 points and had five assists to help Gonzaga beat Santa Clara 85-76 on Thursday night.
Steven Gray scored 14 points for Gonzaga (18-9, 8-3 West Coast Conference), and Elias Harris added 10 points and seven rebounds.
Carter was 6 of 9 from the field and made all six of his free throw attempts. The Bulldogs shot 53.7 percent from the field and were 6 of 14 from behind the arc.
Kevin Foster scored a game-high 27 points for the Broncos (16-12, 6-5). Evan Roquemore had 16, and Ben Dowdell and Marc Trasolini added 10 apiece.
The Broncos were held to four field goals in the final 9 minutes. They shot 44.4 percent in the first half but only 24.3 percent (9 of 37 ) in the second.
Gonzaga held a two-point advantage with 7:35 remaining but pulled away by holding Santa Clara scoreless for more than 4 minutes.
The Bulldogs let Santa Clara hang around by missing 7 of 18 second-half free throws. Gonzaga made 67.7 percent for the game.
Three-pointers by Foster and Trasolini cut Gonzaga’s lead to 63-60 with 8:53 remaining. It was Foster’s eighth and final make from behind the arc in 16 attempts.
Gray and Harris combined to score 10 points in a 12-3 run to open the second half. Gray started it by getting Foster to commit his third foul and then completed the three-point play with a free throw. Harris capped the run with a dunk.
After making his first five 3-point attempts, Foster finally missed one in the opening minute of the second half. Foster scored 18 first-half points.
Gonzaga raced to a 27-13 lead midway through the first half. But the big lead didn’t last long, as Foster hit three consecutive 3-pointers to pull Santa Clara within 30-25 with 9:04 left.
The Broncos took their first lead at 35-32 on Raymond Cowels III’s 3-pointer. Gonzaga closed the half on an 11-6 run, six points coming from Kelly Olynyk, as the Bulldogs held a 43-41 halftime advantage.
Gonzaga’s hope for an 11th consecutive West Coast Conference regular-season title is still within reach after Saint Mary’s was upset by San Diego 74-66 on Wednesday night. Saint Mary’s will be tested in its final three games — all at home. The Gaels face No. 25 Utah State on Saturday, followed by Gonzaga, then will try to avenge a Jan. 29 loss to Portland in their season finale.
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