March 5, 2000

MORAGA, Calif. - Gonzaga University and the University of San Diego will meet in the West Coast Conference Tournament semifinal Sunday at 5:30 p.m. at Toso Pavilion on the Santa Clara University campus.

The second-seeded Bulldogs advanced with a 76-49 win over No. 7 Saint Mary's College, and third-seeded USD edged No. 6 seed University of Portland 56-52 on Saturday. Sunday's other semifinal will match No. 1 Pepperdine University, an 83-49 victor over No. 8 Loyola Marymount University, against No. 4 Santa Clara University, a 63-48 winner of No. 5 University of San Francisco. That game will start 30 minutes following the conclusion of the Gonzaga-USD tussle.

This is the first time since 1994 the top four seeds have advanced, and the fifth time in the 14-year history of the tournament.

Gonzaga and San Diego split their regular-season series, the Bulldogs winning on the Torero's home floor 84-79 in overtime to snap a three-game losing streak in San Diego. It was a different story when USD visited The Kennel, the Toreros snapping Gonzaga's 20-game home winning streak 82-70.

Sunday's winners will meet Monday night at 9 p.m. for the title and an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament. Monday's championship game will be televised on ESPN.