text: Loyola Marymount 62, Gonzaga(18) 77 - 3/8/2010 - Men's College Basketball - Are You Watching This?!
  62 - 77 Final
  Mar 8, 2010 - 6:35 AM By GREG BEACHAM AP Sports Writer
  LAS VEGAS(AP) -- Steven Gray banged his shooting elbow on the Orleans Arena court hard enough to make the Gonzaga guard's coach think it was broken. A little later, two of his fingernails were bent back grotesquely.
  Gray simply gritted his teeth and got the 18th-ranked Bulldogs back to their usual spot in the West Coast Conference tournament final with a 77-62 victory over Loyola Marymount on Sunday night.
  Gray had 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists while playing through some miserable pain for the Bulldogs, who have won nine of the last 11 West Coast tournament titles. He hopes he'll be repaired by the time Gonzaga plays in Monday night's title game against Saint Mary's, which beat Portland in the other semifinal.
  With their fifth straight victory since losing a regular-season game to Loyola Marymount on Feb. 18, the Zags are in their 13th straight conference tournament title game. This Vegas trip is among the most rewarding, with just one returning starter and a wealth of untested talent that came together splendidly this season.
  Elias Harris scored 16 points and Bouldin scored 10 of his 12 points after halftime for the Bulldogs (26-5), whose big early lead dwindled to six points in the final minutes before Bol Kong and Robert Sacre made decisive baskets. Bouldin added two layups and two free throws in the final 4:44 for Gonzaga, which finished on a 16-5 run.
  Gonzaga had played just one game in the past seven days after wrapping up its conference schedule. The Bulldogs earned a double bye into the semifinals by winning their 10th consecutive regular-season title last month - and a break isn't always a great thing for a team's tournament momentum.
  Drew Viney had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Lions (18-15), who put another scare into the Bulldogs to cap their comeback from a three-win season in 2008-09.
  Yet Loyola Marymount kept it close with outstanding free-throw shooting while Gonzaga hovered around 50 percent. Young drove and hit a layup with 8 minutes left to cut it to 58-51. Young's large Afro wobbled while he waved his arms to set off a wild celebration in the small section of Lions fans, where several fans wore Hank Gathers' No. 44 jersey three days after the 20th anniversary of his death during a game.